• SONGS OF THE SUNNY SOUTH Vintage Sheet Music by Stephen Foster ©1934 COVER
  • SONGS OF THE SUNNY SOUTH Vintage Sheet Music by Stephen Foster ©1934 BACK COVER
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Mills Music

1934 Stephen Foster’s Songs of the Sunny South – Mills Collective Edition

1934 Stephen Foster’s Songs of the Sunny South – Mills Collective Edition

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$24.00 USD
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AT A GLANCE

Title:
Stephen Foster's Songs of the Sunny South
Publisher:
Mills Music Inc., New York
Type:
Sheet music
Performance medium:
Piano, guitar, voice
Composer:
Stephen Collins Foster (1826 - 1864)
Era:
Jazz Age (1920 - 1935)
Date:
1934 (Originally composed in mid-19th century)
Material:
Paper
Dimensions:
9" x 12"
Condition:
Good (G)

Stephen Foster’s “Songs of the Sunny South” — Mills Collective Edition with NRA Emblem

Collector’s Note

A 1934 Depression-era compilation of Stephen Foster standards, issued by Mills Music as part of its Collective Edition series and bearing the NRA “We Do Our Part” emblem — a distinctive marker of early New Deal publishing.

Published in 1934 by Mills Music Inc., New York, this Mills Collective Edition brings together several of the most enduring songs by Stephen Collins Foster (1826–1864), often called the “father of American music.”

Included in this collection are well-known Foster compositions such as:

  • Old Folks at Home
  • My Old Kentucky Home
  • Old Black Joe
  • Massa’s in the Cold, Cold Ground
  • Nelly Was a Lady

The black ink cover illustration presents a stylized antebellum scene: a grand plantation house framed by trees, a woman in period dress, and a gentleman in top hat and cane. The design reflects the romanticized Southern imagery frequently used in early 20th-century marketing of Foster’s works. The back cover contains advertising for additional Mills Music publications of the era.

Notably, the cover bears the NRA “We Do Our Part” insignia, used between 1933–1935 during the National Recovery Administration program under President Franklin D. Roosevelt. The emblem helps precisely date this edition to the early New Deal period, adding historical context beyond the music itself.

Excellent vintage condition with light age-related browning. Clean and well preserved. Protective sleeve included.

Framing Appeal

The dramatic black silhouette artwork and bold typography create a striking graphic presentation. Matted in ivory and framed in dark wood, it works well in a music room, study, or historically themed Americana collection.

Historical Context & Content Notice

This publication includes songs historically associated with 19th-century minstrelsy and imagery that reflects racial stereotypes of the period. Such material is presented for historical documentation and educational context. Museums and scholars preserve these works to better understand the cultural and social history surrounding American music and its evolution.

Listen to the Paul Robeson recording of My Old Kentucky Home here.

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

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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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