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Jerome H. Remick & Co

Cowboy Campfire Cover Art — 1907 “San Antonio Song” Sheet Music — Starmer Brothers Illustration

Cowboy Campfire Cover Art — 1907 “San Antonio Song” Sheet Music — Starmer Brothers Illustration

$38.00 USD
$38.00 USD
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Low stock: 1 left

AT A GLANCE

Title:
San Antonio Song
Publisher:
Jerome H. Remick and Co.
Type:
Sheet music
Performance medium:
Piano & voice
Artist:
Starmer Brothers
Composer:
Egbert Van-Alstyne (1878 – 1951)
Lyricist:
Harry Williams (1879 – 1922)
Era:
Ragtime (1895 - 1918)
Date:
1907
Origin:
New York | Detroit
Material:
Paper
Dimensions:
10 ½” x 13 ¾”
Ephemera:
Songbook
Book genre:
Sheet Music | Songbooks

A Romantic Western Campfire Scene from the Golden Age of Illustrated Sheet Music

Collector’s Note

Early sheet music with original Starmer Brothers artwork is highly sought after by collectors of Tin Pan Alley ephemera and illustrated music covers. This 1907 Remick edition stands out for its richly colored Western campfire scene and desirable transitional Whitney-Warner imprint. Today these covers are collected not only for the music but also for their role in documenting early American graphic design and popular culture.

Published in 1907, San Antonio Song reflects the flourishing Tin Pan Alley era, when popular music publishers competed for attention through dramatic illustrated covers designed to catch the eye in music shops. The song was written by composer Egbert Van Alstyne with lyrics by Harry Williams, a prolific songwriting partnership responsible for numerous early 20th-century hits, including the widely performed In the Shade of the Old Apple Tree.

This edition was published by Jerome H. Remick & Company, one of the most influential popular music publishers of the period. The imprint includes the transitional line “Successors of The Whitney-Warner Pub. Co., Detroit – New York,” placing the issue within Remick’s first decade of expansion as it competed with other major Tin Pan Alley firms.

The atmospheric cover illustration depicts two cowboys beside a glowing campfire beneath a star-filled sky, with a saddled horse resting nearby. Romanticized Western imagery like this was immensely popular in American entertainment during the early 1900s, appearing in vaudeville songs, stage productions, and illustrated sheet music.

The reverse cover advertises additional Remick publications and includes an excerpt from Why Don’t You Try (The Rolling Chair Song) along with a catalog of new marches, waltzes, and novelty songs available from the publisher.

The sheet music is in very good vintage condition for its age. The cover retains strong color with minimal edge wear and excellent surface preservation. A light beginning spine split—common for early Remick issues—is present but the cover remains securely attached. Bumped corners do not affect framing potential.  Interior pages are clean and complete. The piece is stored in a protective sleeve.

Framing Appeal

With its dramatic night sky, glowing campfire, and classic Western imagery, this illustrated cover frames beautifully as wall art. The deep blues and warm firelight tones display especially well with a cream mat and a 16" × 20" frame. It makes a striking addition to Western décor, music rooms, libraries, or gallery walls featuring early American illustration.

Artist Biography

The cover illustration is attributed to the Starmer Brothers, William Austin Starmer (1872–1961) and Frederick Waite Starmer (1878–1957). Born in Leeds, England, the brothers emigrated to the United States around the turn of the twentieth century and quickly became two of the most prolific illustrators working in the American sheet music industry. Signing many of their works simply as “Starmer,” they produced thousands of covers between roughly 1900 and the mid-1920s for major publishers including Remick, Witmark, and Feist. 

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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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