ALS signed “S. F. Smith,” one page, lightly-lined both sides, 5.5 x 9, December 15, 1893. Letter to a friend. In part: “I thank you…for the beautiful book mark, which by Mrs. Smith’s suggestion and my cordial approval is to take up its home in my very best and favorite, as well as most elegant English Bible…I enclose two or three more autographs of ‘My Country’ for you to use as you please, you are always so thoughtful, and I thank you for your wise use of them. I also send an autograph of my last hymns as you requested. The very last is of merely local interest, a church hymn; but this one is only a few weeks old…If this simple ditty suits you, I am glad, if not, send for anything else…Keep well and walk carefully during these sharp days. They are harbingers of spring flowers, rough prophets, like Elijah, and roughly clad, like John the Baptist, but prophets nonetheless, and their prophecy will be fulfilled.” Also included is an AQS, signed “S. F. Smith,” on an off-white 3.25 x 2 card. Smith pens the opening two lines of My Country Tis of Thee: “My country ‘tis of thee, Sweet land of liberty, Of thee I sing. Written in 1832, Dec. 31, 1894.” In very good to fine condition, with light soiling to letter and quote, a couple small separations to intersecting folds to letter, mounting strip along right edge of reverse of letter, and some ink remnants to bottom of letter.
The words that eventually became a tradition, particularly among US school children, were written by Smith while he was studying at Andover Theological Seminary in 1832. More than 60 years later, the autograph requests kept coming! Despite the public’s enduring admiration, not everyone was as enamored. When Oliver Wendell Holmes Sr recommended Smith as a potential candidate for an honorary doctorate from Harvard University in 1893, the university president declined, noting that My Country 'Tis of Thee was better known for its melody, which Smith did not write, than its lyrics. Holmes predicted that the song, and its lyrics would be sung for centuries. To that end, he was absolutely correct, with examples of Smith’s handwritten and signed creation are still very much in demand. Pre-certified PSA/DNA and RRAuction COA.
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