^#638 ^Lot 666 Samuel Francis Smith

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 an off-white 6 x 3.5 sheet. Smith pens the first verse to America. 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 mountainside,/Let freedom ring.” Signed at the conclusion, “S. Fr. Smith, Written in 1832, March 22, ‘95.” In very good condition, with scattered toning and soiling and small mounting remnants on reverse. Any example of this classic collectible Americana have become quite elusive and highly prized by collectors.