• Shelton Brooks JEAN Vintage Sheet Music 1919
  • Shelton Brooks JEAN Vintage Sheet Music 1919
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Waterson, Berlin & Snyder

"Jean" 1919 Jazz Era Sheet Music by Shelton Brooks | Art Nouveau Cover

"Jean" 1919 Jazz Era Sheet Music by Shelton Brooks | Art Nouveau Cover

$25.00 USD
$25.00 USD
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Low stock: 1 left

AT A GLANCE

Title:
Jean
Publisher:
Waterson, Berlin & Snyder, New York
Type:
Sheet music
Subject:
Cover Art: Art Nouveau / Early Art Deco Influence
Performance medium:
Piano & voice
Artist:
F S M (Initials only)
Composer:
Shelton Brooks (1885–1975)
Era:
Jazz Age (1920 - 1935)
Date:
1919
Material:
Paper
Dimensions:
9" x 12"
Condition:
Good (G)
Color:
Orange, grays, black
Notes:
Early African American jazz composer

An Early Jazz-Era Composition with Striking Orange Art Nouveau Cover

Collector’s Note

An important example of early Jazz-era publishing and African American musical achievement, offering both cultural history and bold decorative impact.

Composed by Shelton Brooks and published by Waterson, Berlin & Snyder of New York in 1919, Jean, represents a moment of growing recognition for Black composers in early 20th-century American popular music. The back cover features promotional stanzas for You’re a Million Miles from Nowhere by Walter Donaldson, Sam Lewis, and Joe Young — further grounding the piece in its 1919 musical landscape.

Brooks was an influential African American composer of ragtime and early jazz, and this song reflects the transition from late Tin Pan Alley to the emerging Jazz Age. He was widely recognized for his vaudeville-style songwriting and has been called Canada’s first jazz composer.

The cover art features a beautifully stylized illustration of a woman in flowing 1910s fashion, framed by delicate garland vines overlooking a reflecting pool. The palette of warm orange, muted grays, and black creates bold visual contrast that displays exceptionally well.

The sheet music remains in excellent condition, with only a previous owner’s name written lightly in pencil on the cover — easily erased if desired for framing. Housed in a protective sleeve.

Framing Appeal

This piece with its Art Nouveau influence and vivid Art Deco color palette has exceptional decorative presence and displays beautifully when framed in a music room, study, vintage-inspired living space, or gallery wall.

Just a quick heads‑up: the photos reveal details far better than text alone, so they’re worth a close review.

We share as much accurate information as possible about each item—from provenance to condition—but the images often show the nuances best. If you ever need more details, we’re always happy to help.

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Why Collect Vintage Sheet Music

Collecting old sheet music invites you into a world where history, art, and melody intertwine. Each piece is more than printed notation—it's a preserved moment in time. For music lovers, history buffs, and creative minds alike, building a collection offers both personal satisfaction and the possibility of uncovering items of real value.

From classical masterpieces to the spirited energy of the Jazz Age, vintage sheet music reflects how music shaped culture across generations. First editions of composers like Chopin or Gershwin are especially coveted, treasured for their historical and monetary worth. As Smithsonian Magazine notes, these artifacts provide a vivid window into America’s musical and cultural evolution.

Collectors often cherish sheet music not only for its sound but for its striking cover art. Displayed as décor, it brings warmth and character to any room. Others breathe new life into old pages through creative projects—turning them into artwork, journals, or crafts that merge nostalgia with personal style.

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