SAMUEL FRANCIS SMITH - AUTOGRAPH POEM SIGNED 03/25/1892 - HFSID 347970
Sale Price $3,400.00
Reg. $4,000.00
SAMUEL F. SMITH
A signed and handwritten copy of his poem “America”, framed with a photograph and
plaques
Autograph Poem Signed: “S. F. Smith” in black ink. The 4½x6½ card features the first and
fourth stanzas of America, his most famous poem. He also wrote in the bottom-left corner
“March 25, 1892/ Written in 1832/ First sung in Park St. Ch. Boston July 4, 1832”. Samuel
Francis Smith (1808-1895) wrote “America” to the tune of a popular German melody after
visiting the European nation in 1831. Although he titled the poem “America”, it is now
known as “My Country, 'Tis of Thee”. Smith jotted down the complete hymn on a
piece of scrap paper within half an hour, and the result, "America", was first sung
at a children's celebration in Boston's Park Street Church on July 4, 1832. It
became one of the many popular patriotic songs considered national anthems
until the official national anthem, “The Star-Spangled Banner”, was adopted
in 1931. George Gershwin used Smith's phrase "Of Thee I Sing" as the title of
his 1932 Pulitzer Prize-winning musical, and the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther
King, Jr. quoted the entire first stanza as he concluded his "I have a dream"
speech in front of the Lincoln Memorial in 1963. Frame chipped at corners. Ink
faded but still legible. Otherwise, fine condition. Framed in the Gallery of
History style: 34x18½
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