Books and Manuscripts

The Irving Berlin Copy of Joseph Hopkinson's “Hail Columbia,” America's First National Song

"Hail Columbia--happy land!
Hail ye Heroes--heaven born band,
Who fought and bled in freedom's cause,
Who fought and bled in freedom's cause,
And when the Storm of War was done,
Enjoy'd the Peace your valour won
Let Independence be our boast
Ever mindful what it cost,
Ever grateful for the prize
Let its Altars reach the Skies.
Firm, united, let us be
Rallying round our liberty,
As a band of bothers join'd
Peace and Safety we shall find"

Hopkinson, Joseph
Autograph Manuscript, signed
(Philadelphia), February 22, 1838. Two sheets, each 10 x 8 in. (254 x 203 mm). From the library of American composer Irving Berlin, author of America's other national anthem--"God Bless America". Three-page holographic manuscript of the full lyrics to “Hail Columbia”, signed by Joseph Hopkinson, for George M. Kein. Hopkinson's autograph note at bottom of third page: “Dear Sir In compliance with your request I send you a Copy--from memory of--the song of ‘Hail Columbia’ Jos. Hopkinson Feby 22. 1838". Manuscript note at bottom of fourth page, “Sent to me by Hon. G.M. Kein October 16, 1840 J.H. Causten Junr.”--likely James H. Causten, Jr., of Baltimore. Each sheet silked and inlaid; creasing from contemporary folds. In full red morocco slip case and chemise. Includes an engraved portrait of Hopkinson. 

A rare holograph copy of Joseph Hopkinson's famed song “Hail Columbia”--the United States' first national song, and the de facto national anthem throughout the nineteenth century. The son of composer and signer of the Declaration of Independence Francis Hopkinson, Joseph was born in Philadelphia, and rose to become a prominent lawyer and federal judge. In the spring of 1798, when--as Hopkinson notes at the opening of this document--“war between the United States and France was thought to be inevitable”, Hopkinson was asked by an old school friend and then actor, Gilbert Fox, to pen lyrics to the tune of Philip Phile's “The President's March”, to be performed at an upcoming show. Written the same year as the outbreak of the French Revolution, Phile's music was first performed at President George Washington's first inauguration, and had by 1798 become a popular tune and anthem for the presidency. Hopkinson penned lyrics overnight, and when “Hail Columbia” was performed it quickly became a national sensation. It was sung in the streets by large crowds, performed in theaters across the nation, and found equal favor across the bitter political aisle. Throughout the nineteenth century and into the twentieth, the song was widely reprinted and copied (see the following lot), and was only eclipsed as the national song in 1931, when the “Star Spangled Banner” was named the official national anthem. 

In 1876, during the centennial celebration, this very document was displayed at Independence Hall. (Louis Banks, Immortal Songs of Camp and Field… 1898, p. 74)

Hopkinson's original 1798 draft is now lost, and the available auction record does not identify any other fair copy appearing at auction. Rare.