OUR COUNTRY'S FLAG. SONG COMPOSED AND DEDICATED TO HIS EXCELLENCY ABRAHAM LINCOLN. PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES. BY G. GUMPERT.
Philadelphia: G. Andre & Co., [1861?]. Sheet music. Folio, 10.5" x 13.75". 5, [1 blank] pp, folded [pp.3-4 loose]. Attractive color lithograph on title leaf of young soldier in military camp holding an American flag, signed in type, 'J. Queen Del. & Lith; P.S. Duval & Son Lith. Philada.' At head of title: '10th Edition.' Light edge wear, light scattered foxing. Poetry and music by G. Gumpert with piano arrangement by F. Losse. Words in English with German translation. First line reads, "Beneath the Stars and Stripes there stand Our sons so nobly brave." Very Good.
One of several songs published in 1861 "extolling the American flag," this one by George [Gustave] Gumpert, the American Jewish composer [Leepson, Flag: An American Biography, page 108-109]. Printings of this popular work by other publishers also issued during the Civil War.
Gustave Edward Gumpert [1835-1882] was born in Germany to Walter H. and Fanny Gumpert. The family emigrated to the United States in 1856, and Gustave's father started s cigar business in Philadelphia which Gustave and his brothers, Richard T. and Albert F., took over after his death in 1861. Gustave became connected with the Lincoln family during the Civil War and developed a close friendship with their son, Tad. President Lincoln appointed Gustave as Treasury Agent about 1864, a position he filled for two years before accepting a job as Revenue Collector for the port of Philadelphia. Gustave's friendship with Tad continued well after the President's death. [Gumpert, G. (1955). Tad Lincoln and Gus Gumpert. Journal of the Illinois State Historical Society (1908-1984), 48(1), 40–44..
Lester S. Levy Collection of Sheet Music, online collection of the Sheridan Libraries at Johns Hopkins University. Wolf, American Song Sheets 1776. Vera Brodsky Lawrence, Music for Patriots. Dichter, Early American Sheet Music. Item #25826
Price: $600.00