Samuel Francis Smith Autographs, Memorabilia & Collectibles
SAMUEL FRANCIS SMITH
Born: October 21, 1808 in Boston, Massachusetts
Died: November 16, 1895 in Boston, Massachusetts
Biography
After a visit to Germany in 1831, 23-year-old theological student Samuel Francis Smith (1808-1895), impressed that German children started their school day by singing a hymn, wrote a patriotic hymn using a simple German melody. Coincidentally, the melody was the same as that of the British national anthem, "God Save the King". 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. 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.
2001-The-Attic (Sound), 1995-The-Critic (Sound), 1956-Gaby (Sound), 1943-Salt-Lake-Diversions (Sound), 1942-Yankee-Doodle-Dandy (Sound), 1939-Let-Freedom-Ring (Sound), 1938-Penrod's-Double-Trouble (Sound), 1933-Made-on-Broadway (Sound), 1932-The-Washington-Masquerade (Sound), 1931-Penrod-and-Sam (Sound), 1990-The-Wonder-Years (Sound), 2007-Creature-Comforts-America (Sound), 1977-Twilight's-Last-Gleaming (Sound), 1974-Where-the-Lilies-Bloom (Sound), 1944-Buffalo-Bill (Sound), 1944-Mackinac-Island (Sound), 1943-Hitler's-Children (Sound), 1935-The-Perfect-Tribute (Sound), 1930-Back-Pay (Sound), 2009-10-Things-I-Hate-About-You (Sound), 2009-Bandslam (Sound), 1953-Little-Johnny-Jet (Sound), 1947-Junction-88 (Sound), 1946-Wild-Beauty (Sound), 1942-Joe-Smith,-American (Sound), 1939-The-Bill-of-Rights (Sound), 1938-The-Declaration-of-Independence (Sound), 1937-The-Great-O'Malley (Sound), 1935-Bordertown (Sound), 1974-Happy-Days (Sound), 1957-Cheyenne (Sound), 1990-2011-The-Simpsons (Sound), 2010-The-Big-Bang-Theory (Sound), 1995-Animaniacs (Sound), 1976-Good-Times (Sound), 1939-Barricade (Sound), 1936-Give-Me-Liberty (Sound)
Style
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SAMUEL FRANCIS SMITH - AUTOGRAPH LETTER SIGNED 01/23/1893 - HFSID 74916Samuel F. Smith sends an autograph letter explaining were to find the negative of his latest portrait. Autograph Letter signed: "S. F. Smith/of Newton County, Mass.", 1p, 5x8 sheet. Davenport, Iowa, 1893 January 23. To Mr. Amos R. Wells.Sale Price $995.00
$1,200.00
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SAMUEL FRANCIS SMITH - AUTOGRAPH LETTER SIGNED 07/17/1890 - HFSID 35436Smith handwrote, dated and signed this letter to an autograph hunter in 1890. In it, he says that he never authorized anyone to sell his signature and will provide it for only the cost of postage. Autograph letter signed: "S.F. Smith", 1 page, 4¾x8, on ruled paper.
Price: $1,200.00
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SAMUEL FRANCIS SMITH - AUTOGRAPH LETTER SIGNED 11/21/1891 - HFSID 29737Samuel F. Smith sends an autograph letter of thanks. Autograph Letter signed: "S. F. Smith", 1½p conjoined sheets, 5x8 lined sheet. Newton Center, Massachusetts, 1891 November 21. To Mr. D. P. Secor.
Price: $1,200.00
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SAMUEL FRANCIS SMITH - AUTOGRAPH LYRICS SIGNED 02/06/1894 - HFSID 253239Autograph Poem signed: "S.F. Smith.", ¾p, 5x8 lined sheet. The last stanza of his four-stanza poem, America.
Price: $1,800.00
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SAMUEL FRANCIS SMITH - AUTOGRAPH POEM SIGNED - HFSID 28140Samuel Francis Smith pens and signs the complete four stanzas of his most famous hymn, "America", which was also popularly known as "My Country 'Tis of Thee". Autograph Poem signed: "S.F. Smith" on fourth sheet, 4p, 6x3, separate sheets.
Price: $3,750.00
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SAMUEL FRANCIS SMITH - AUTOGRAPH POEM SIGNED 01/30/1895 - HFSID 42912First three lines of Smith's 1832 hymn America, handwritten, signed and dated by him in 1895, the year that he died Autograph poem signed: "S.F. Smith/Written in 1832./Jan. 30, 1895.", 3x2¼ card. In full: "My country - 'tis of thee,/Sweet land of liberty,/of thee I sing.…"
Price: $1,800.00
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SAMUEL FRANCIS SMITH - AUTOGRAPH POEM SIGNED 03/25/1892 - HFSID 347970A 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.
Price: $4,000.00
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SAMUEL FRANCIS SMITH - AUTOGRAPH POEM SIGNED 07/17/1890 - HFSID 35437Autograph Poem signed: "S.F. Smith," 1p, 5x8. The first and fourth stanzas of our national hymn. In full: "My country,-'tis of thee,/Sweet land of liberty,/Of thee I sing;/Land where my fathers died,/Land of the pilgrims' pride,/From every mountain side/Let freedom ring.…"
Price: $1,800.00
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SAMUEL FRANCIS SMITH - AUTOGRAPH POEM SIGNED 1/1886 - HFSID 28141Samuel F. Smith signs and pens the poem "America". Autograph Poem signed: "S.F. Smith", 4¼x3¼card. Titled by him: "'America'.…"
Price: $1,800.00
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SAMUEL FRANCIS SMITH - AUTOGRAPH POEM SIGNED 10/15/1885 - HFSID 82823Samuel F. Smith pens the four complete four stanzas of his most famous hymn, "America", which was also popularly known as "My Country 'Tis of Thee". Autograph Poem signed: "S. F. Smith", 2p, 4¾x7¾ lined sheet.
Price: $3,750.00
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SAMUEL FRANCIS SMITH - AUTOGRAPH POEM SIGNED 11/10/1892 - HFSID 32854Samuel F. Smith signs an autograph poem of the first stanza of his hymn, "America". Autograph poem signed: "S.F. Smith", 3½x2½ card. At lower left, Smith has penned: "Written 1832./Nov. 10, 1892.…"
Sale Price $1,495.00
$1,800.00
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SAMUEL FRANCIS SMITH - AUTOGRAPH POEM SIGNED 11/21/1892 - HFSID 41579Rare copy of Smith's 1832 hymn The Morning Light is Breaking, handwritten, signed and dated by Smith in 1892. This hymn is titled Missionary Hymn but lyrics identical to The Morning Light is Breaking.
Sale Price $1,695.00
$2,000.00
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SAMUEL FRANCIS SMITH - AUTOGRAPHED SIGNED PHOTOGRAPH - HFSID 285919His extremely rare signed cabinet photograph (4x5) Cabinet Photograph signed: "S.F. Smith." Sepia, 4x6½ overall, image 4x5½, (two surfaces). Not mounted on customary cabinet photographic board. Glued to a 7x9½ sheet that has been affixed to a 9½x11½ page.
Price: $4,250.00
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SAMUEL FRANCIS SMITH - PHOTOGRAPH MOUNT SIGNED - HFSID 274862Signed sepia-toned cabinet card photo of Samuel Francis Smith, the man who wrote the hymn America Photograph Mount signed: "S. Fr. Smith." B/w sepia-toned, 4¼x6 overall, image 4x5¼ (two surfaces).
Price: $4,000.00
