Irving Berlin Music Publishing Company

God Bless America 1939 Sheet Music | Irving Berlin | Kate Smith

Name: God Bless America 1939 Sheet Music | Irving Berlin | Kate Smith
Brand: Irving Berlin Music Publishing Company
Price: 22.00 USD
Availability: InStock

$22.00 USD

Sale Sold out

Shipping calculated at checkout.

Flat $4.00 USPS shipping on all sheet music within the continental USA.

Low stock: 1 left

Title:: God Bless America
Publisher:: Irving Berlin Music Publishers
Type:: Sheet music
Subject:: Patriotic | American standard
Performance medium:: Piano & voice
Composer:: Irving Berlin
Era:: Big Band Era (1935 - 1946)
Material:: Paper
Dimensions:: 9" x 12"
Condition:: Good (G)
Notes:: Cover cites first performance by Kate Smith on Armistice Day, 1936

1939 First Edition of America’s Unofficial Anthem

Collector’s Note

Early editions of God Bless America are highly desirable due to their direct connection to Kate Smith’s original broadcast and the establishment of the God Bless America Fund. This piece is especially collectible in that the edition notes the rights of the music were assigned to Theodore Roosevelt Jr. A meaningful addition to patriotic Americana collections.

Few songs carry the emotional weight of God Bless America.

Written by Irving Berlin and first performed by Kate Smith on Armistice Day, 1938, this 1939 sheet music edition captures the moment a patriotic standard entered the American conscience. Smith's performance cited on the front cover.

Berlin originally drafted the song during World War I for the revue Yip, Yip, Yaphank, but set it aside. In 1938, amid rising tensions in Europe and following news surrounding the Munich Agreement, he revisited and revised the piece. Its radio debut by Kate Smith became an immediate national event.

By 1940, Berlin established the God Bless America Fund, assigning royalties to benefit American youth organizations. This edition notes that the copyright was assigned to Theodore Roosevelt Jr., reflecting the song’s philanthropic and patriotic legacy.

The sheet music measures 9" by 12" and is very good condition with no creases or tears. Clean interior. Housed in protective sleeve.

Listen to Kate Smith sing Irving Berlin's God Bless America here.

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.

View full details

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.

Browse Selection of Printed Works Collections

Vintage Cookbooks
Collectible cookbooks cherished as historical kitchen archives that preserve regional foodways, community identity, and the everyday cooking practices of earlier generations.
Browse Vintage Cookbooks
Community & Junior League Cookbooks
Fundraising cookbooks preserving local recipes, traditions, and the social history of community groups offering insight into domestic culture and regional identity.
Browse Fundraising Cookbooks
Classic Literature & First Editions
Imagined stories, timeless works of lasting artistic value, children's literature, and books prized for their rarity, literary distinction and historical significance and across generations.
Browse Classic Literature & Fiction
Biographies & Reference Books
Writings grounded in real people, events, knowledge, or places — including biographies, memoirs, reference materials, archival documents, guidebooks, and instruction manuals.
Browse Biographies & Reference
Magazines & Journals
Back issues of magazines and periodicals from news and popular culture to cooking, sports, music, and lifestyle topics — offering a snapshot of the ideas, trends, and concerns of their time.
Browse Magazines & Journals