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 74916Autograph letter signed: "S. F. Smith/of Newton County, Mass.", dated January 23, 1893, addressed to Mr. Amos R. Wells, explaining the location of his latest photograph's negative. Smith is known for writing the patriotic hymn America.Price: $950.00
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SAMUEL FRANCIS SMITH - AUTOGRAPH LETTER SIGNED 07/17/1890 - HFSID 35436Letter signed by Samuel F. Smith, handwritten and dated July 17, 1890, addressing Milton Reed. In it, Smith states he never authorized the sale of his signature, offering it only for postage costs. Includes a note regarding his famous hymn, America.
Price: $950.00
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SAMUEL FRANCIS SMITH - AUTOGRAPH LETTER SIGNED 11/21/1891 - HFSID 29737Autograph letter signed: "S. F. Smith" sent by Samuel F. Smith in 1891, expressing gratitude to Mr. D. P. Secor. Mentioning his election to a society and his daughter's appreciation for their lectures, the letter reflects on personal connections and health wishes.
Price: $950.00
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SAMUEL FRANCIS SMITH - AUTOGRAPH LYRICS SIGNED 02/06/1894 - HFSID 253239Autograph poem signed: "S.F. Smith." contains the last stanza of America, written in 1832. Smith notes the date of his writing as February 6, 1894. The poem reflects his patriotic inspiration from a German melody.
Price: $1,600.00
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SAMUEL FRANCIS SMITH - AUTOGRAPH POEM SIGNED - HFSID 28140Autograph poem signed by Samuel Francis Smith includes the complete four stanzas of the hymn America, also known as My Country 'Tis of Thee. Each stanza is written on a separate sheet, with the signature noted as S.F. Smith.
Price: $3,250.00
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SAMUEL FRANCIS SMITH - AUTOGRAPH POEM SIGNED 01/30/1895 - HFSID 42912Autograph poem features the first three lines of America, handwritten and signed by Samuel Francis Smith, dated January 30, 1895. The text reads, "My country - 'tis of thee,/Sweet land of liberty,/of thee I sing."
Sale Price $1,195.00
$1,400.00
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SAMUEL FRANCIS SMITH - AUTOGRAPH POEM SIGNED 03/25/1892 - HFSID 347970Signed and handwritten poem by Samuel F. Smith, featuring the first and fourth stanzas of America, autographed as "S. F. Smith" in black ink. Includes a note stating the poem's history, dated March 25, 1892.
Sale Price $2,750.00
$3,250.00
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SAMUEL FRANCIS SMITH - AUTOGRAPH POEM SIGNED 07/17/1890 - HFSID 35437Autograph poem signed: "S.F. Smith", containing the first and fourth stanzas of "America". Smith added: "Written in 1832/July 17, 1890." Previously part of Dr. Max Thorek's collection, noted in Charles Hamilton's Collecting Autographs and Manuscripts.
Sale Price $1,195.00
$1,400.00
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SAMUEL FRANCIS SMITH - AUTOGRAPH POEM SIGNED 1/1886 - HFSID 28141Autograph poem signed by Samuel F. Smith, titled "America", includes the full text. Smith notes the year of composition as "1832" and the date of this copy as "Jan. 1886".
Sale Price $1,195.00
$1,400.00
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SAMUEL FRANCIS SMITH - AUTOGRAPH POEM SIGNED 11/10/1892 - HFSID 32854Autograph poem signed by Samuel F. Smith presents the first stanza of his hymn, “America”, inscribed with "S.F. Smith" and dated "Written 1832./Nov. 10, 1892." It highlights the hymn's significance for children during school opening exercises.
Price: $1,400.00
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SAMUEL FRANCIS SMITH - AUTOGRAPH POEM SIGNED 11/21/1892 - HFSID 41579Copy of The Morning Light is Breaking handwritten and signed by Samuel Francis Smith in 1892, titled Missionary Hymn. It includes an autograph poem signed: "S.F. Smith/Written in 1832./Nov. 21, 1892." Handwritten copies are extremely rare.
Price: $1,600.00
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SAMUEL FRANCIS SMITH - PHOTOGRAPH MOUNT SIGNED - HFSID 274862Cabinet card photograph of Samuel Francis Smith, known for writing the hymn America. Signed on the mount as "S. Fr. Smith." Smith composed America in 1832 after a visit to Germany, inspired by children's singing.
Sale Price $1,195.00
$1,400.00
