An early newspaper printing of "The Star Spangled Banner." - photo 1
An early newspaper printing of "The Star Spangled Banner." - photo 2

An early newspaper printing of "The Star Spangled Banner."

Sold
$ 2 500
Auction dateClassic
22.04.2021 10:00UTC -04:00
Auctioneer
CHRISTIE'S
Event location
USA, New York
Archive
The auction is completed. No bids can be placed anymore.
Archive
ID 517685
Lot 39 | An early newspaper printing of "The Star Spangled Banner."
STAR SPANGLED BANNER – National Intelligencer. Washington: Gales & Seaton, 27 September 1814. Vol. XV, No. 2187.

An early printing of "The Star Spangled Banner." The text of Francis Scott Key’s verses appears beneath the title, "The Defence of Fort M'Henry" with some details of the circumstances surrounding its composition: "The annexed song was composed under the following circumstances – A gentleman had left Baltimore, in a flag of Truce for the purpose of getting released from a British fleet a friend of his, who had been captured at Marlborough. He went as far as the mouth of the Patuxent, and was not permitted to return lest the intended attack on Baltimore should be disclosed. He was therefore brought up the bay to the mouth of the Patapsco, where the flag vessel was kept under the guns of a frigate, and he was compelled to witness the bombardment of Fort McHenry, which the Admiral had boasted that he would carry in a few hours, and that the city must fall. He watched the flag at the Fort through the whole day with an anxiety that can be better felt than described, until the night prevented him from seeing it. In the night he watched the Bomb-Shells, at an early dawn his eye was again greeted by the proudly-waving flag of his country." The verses were set to the melody of the popular British tune, "Anacreon in Heaven". Although Key's identity as the author was first observed when the song appeared in the Frederick-Town Herald on 24 September, this had not been made known to the publishers of the Intelligencer. Following the fourth stanza, the editors added a comment: "Whoever is the author of those lines they do equal honor to his principles and his talents." (Filby & Howard, p.60). Published seven days after its first appearance in the Baltimore Patriot on 20 September 1814.

Four pages, bifolium, 522 x 320mm (small portion excised from left hand column of page one, toned at left hand margin).
Category:Newspaper
Address of auction CHRISTIE'S
20 Rockefeller Plaza
10020 New York
USA
Preview
08.04.2021 – 22.04.2021
Phone +1 212 636 2000
Fax +1 212 636 4930
Email
4FQ.AYGKAGLUQ@FO3G@
Conditions of purchaseConditions of purchase
Shipping Postal service
Courier service
pickup by yourself
Payment methods Wire Transfer
Business hoursBusiness hours
Mo 09:30 – 17:00   
Tu 09:30 – 17:00   
We 09:30 – 17:00   
Th 09:30 – 17:00   
Fr 09:30 – 17:00   
Sa closed
Su closed

Related terms

Frequently asked questions

First of all, you should register to be able to purchase at auction. After confirming your email address, enter your personal information in your user profile, such as your first name, last name, and mail address. Choose a lot from the upcoming auction and the maximum amount you want to place on it. After confirmation of your choice, we will send your application by e-mail to the appropriate auction house. If the auction house accepts a request, it will participate in the auction. You can view the current status of a bid at any time in your personal account in the "Bids" section.
Auctions are performed by auction houses and each of the auction houses describes their terms of auction. You can see the texts in the section "Auction information".
The results of the auction are published within a few days after the end of the auction. In the top menu of the site, find the tab "Auctions". Click on it and you will be on the auction catalog page, where you can easily find the category "Results". After opening it, select the desired auction from the list, enter and view the current status of the interested lot.
The information about the auction winners is confidential. The auction winner will receive a direct notification from the auction house responsible with instructions for further action: an invoice for payment and the manner in which the goods will be received.
Each of the auction houses has its own payment policy for the won lots. All auction houses accept bank transfers, most of them accept credit card payments. In the near future you will find detailed information for each case in the section "Auction information" on the page of the auction catalog and the lot.
Shipment of the won lot depends on its size. Small items can be delivered by post. Larger lots are sent by courier. Employees of the auction houses will offer you a wide range to choose from.
No. The archive serves as a reference for the study of auction prices, photographs and descriptions of works of art.