Boston-born Baptist minister and academic (1808–1895) best known as the lyricist of ‘America’ (’My Country ’Tis of Thee’), written while he was a student at Andover Theological Seminary. AQS on two 4 x 7 lightly-lined off-white sheets, signed at the bottom, “S. F. Smith, Written in 1832, Dec. 2, 1891.” Smith pens all four stanzas of ‘America,’ in full: “My country ‘tis of thee/Sweet land of liberty/Of thee I sing/Land where my fathers died/Land of the pilgrim’s pride/From every mountain side/Let freedom ring/My native country thee/Land of the noble free/Thy name I love/I love thy rocks and rills/Thy woods and templed hills/My heart with rapture thrills/Like that above/ Let music swell the breeze/And ring from all the trees/Sweet freedom’s song/Let mortal tongues awake/Let all that breathe partake/Let rocks their silence break/The sound prolong/Our fathers’ God to Thee/Author of liberty/To Thee we sing/Long may our land be bright/With freedom’s holy light/Protect us by Thy might/Great God our King,” signed at the bottom, “S. F. Smith, Written in 1832, Oct. 14, 1891.” A central vertical fold, scattered light rippling and uniform toning, otherwise fine condition. Still as moving and pertinent today as it was in 1832, these beautifully penned words are exceedingly rare and highly-desirable. Pre-certified John Reznikoff/PSA/DNA and RR Auction COA.
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