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. Smith’s stirring patriotic song, set to the same melody as the British national anthem (“God Save the Queen”), served as a de facto national anthem for much of the 19th century. AQS on two lightly lined off-white 4.5 x 7.5 sheets, signed at the conclusion “S. F. Smith” and dated “1832 [the year originally written]—1877” [the year of this copy]. Smith pens all four stanzas of “America.” In part: “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 mountainside,/Let freedom ring…. Our father’s 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.” Matted and framed with a photo and printed transcript to an overall size of 21.75 x 17.75. In very good condition overall, with ink a shade or two light but fully legible, each sheet affixed to mat board, and complete horizontal separation to each sheet (lightly touching a few words; one separation with small chip, not touching text; stabilized by mounting). Examples of this classic of collectible Americana including all four stanzas have become quite elusive. Auction LOA John Reznikoff/PSA/DNA and R&R COA.
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