Music to Your Eyes: Collecting Old Sheet Music

Over the holidays we always decorate as much as possible. I am often told (by hubby mostly) that we have ‘too much stuff’ but I tend to disagree. The spirit is everywhere. We have an old organ in our living room (maybe I should rephrase that) and we change the sheet music with the season. So naturally, we have some Christmas songs on it during the holiday time.
Since Christmas has past, I wanted to make the change to a more ’spring-like’ selection. That got me to thinking what great fun it is to buy and display these pieces of artwork. They are often found at yard or estate sales and can also be found reasonably priced at thrift shops or antique stores. Many times they are below $5 each. The ones that are often ‘higher-priced’ are those with themes of militaria, or Black Americana or Native American Indian pictures.

Some are collected for their ‘time-frame’, such as those with art deco graphics. We like them all!
Some sheet music was from movies, back before we got a CD with the movie’s sound track. We found this one from Dixie, featuring Bing Crosby in a red and white suit, strumming on a banjo. The lovely Dorothy Lamour is shown as is a large supporting cast. The one from “The Moving Picture Ball” was from 1920 and shows some of the fashions of the day. You can’t help but love the dapper gents in hats, ladies in gowns with straps and a bit of leg showing as well.
We have some with a military theme. One is called Come Back to Me, and from 1920, probably from right after WWI. The one called Three Sisters has young ladies on the cover and each one holds a heart with a picture of a serviceman. One appears to be a soldier, the center one is a sailor and also a Marine. The one called Bell Bottom Trousers is fun! My hubby gets teased a lot about being in the Navy for 4 years and never seeing a ship! This piece of sheet music is from 1944, a World War II song.
It’s not easy to find those with a child’s theme but this one is called Rag Doll and shows a sort of ‘toy story’ picture. Really a cutie!
Some pieces are really quite old. The one called Bachelor Days was from the world-famous Ziegfeld Follies of 1916! The lady on the front has a large parasol and on her full skirt you’ll find scads of lady dancers. Another called “My Sweetie Went Away- She Didn’t Say Where – When – or Why” shows a rather dejected looking man in a smoking jacket. He holds a letter in his hand. The vibrantly dressed young ‘flapper’ appears that she is on her way to more adventure than he had to offer. Don’t you just love the headband with feather plume, white boa and bobbed hair? Ahh, for the good old days, just love those styles.
Ladies were often featured on sheet music. One called “Out of the East” has a very ‘foreign look’, barefoot with ankle bracelets and a flowing gown.” Long Live the Ladies” has two gorgeous women on a stairway. Their hats are most likely the latest fashion. The gent in the striped pants, frock-coat and top hat is staring admiringly at them. He also has a cane and ‘monocle.’
It is quite an inexpensive hobby, collecting vintage sheet music. Many people frame them, and get rave reviews. Of course, there are others that use them for their original purpose and love not only the graphics but the old tunes from years gone by. Whatever your purpose for these, I know you’ll enjoy them.
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