Lot 653

Charles K. Harris SIGNATURE, Date, & Song Titles Noted Jewish-American Songwriter

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Charles K. Harris SIGNATURE, Date, & Song Titles Noted Jewish-American Songwriter

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Estimate: $150 - $250

Starting Bid: $50

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by The Book Barn
August 13, 2026 5:00 PM EDT
Timed Auction
353 Indian Village Road
Shapliegh, ME, US 07076

SCARCE SIGNATURE, Date, & Song Titles by Noted Jewish-American Songwriter. Charles Harris Heavy card stock Approximately 3 inch high by 4 inch wide signed by noted Jewish-American Songwriter Charles K. Harris. Boldly Signed with date & song titles in ink: "CHAS. K. Harris./"FOR OLD TIMES SAKE"/"AFTER THE BALL"/FEB 18TH /01"

CHAS(RLES) K.(ASSELL) HARRIS (1867-1930) was a noted, well regarded Jewish-American songwriter of popular music. During his long career, he advanced the relatively new genre of popular music, publishing more than 300 songs, often deemed by admirers as the "king of the tear jerkers". He is one of the early pioneers of Tin Pan Alley, helping pave the way for such illusionary songsters as Irving Berlin. In 1892, Harris wrote his first mega hit, "After The Ball", a song about an old man recounting the story of his long-lost love to his niece. He caught the attention of John Phillip Sousa, who played the tune at the 1893 World Columbia Exposition, boosting sheet music sales to an unheard of excess of five million copies in the 1890s. His next hit "Break The News To Mother", about a dying soldier, coincided with the Spanish-American War in 1897 and was also a hit during 1917 and 1918. In 1899, he drew upon his own experiences as a Jew to compose "A Rabbi's Daughter". Harris's sentimental songs were introduced on stages and music halls, but they found ready acceptance among folkloric string bands of the American South. Both "Fallen By the Wayside"' and "There’ll Come a Time" were recorded by Charlie Poole, and both "Mid the Green Fields of Virginia" and his extremely popular song from 1901, "Hello Central, Give Me Heaven", were recorded by The Carter Family."

Mounting traces on verso. Overall Very Good Condition. ALL ITEMS ARE GUARANTEED TO BE ACCURATELY DESCRIBED, NOT DEFECTIVE, & GENUINE.

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  • Condition: Very Good Condition

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Shipping

We do all our own shipping. Shipping will be added to winning bidder's invoice for item(s) won. Media Mail postage from USPS will be used for shipping in the United States for those items allowed. Lowest alternative cost shipping will be billed for items not allowed by USPS to be shipped by Media Mail. Foreign winning bidders will pay postage based on their countries small/medium/large Flat Rate box postage rates & weight of the package. Other types of postage are available at added expense at the bidders request. You also agree to pay any applicable taxes and/or customs/import duties. A Tracking Number will be provided to buyer. Insurance is mandatory on packages over $100 USD and will be added to postage charges when applicable.

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Bid Increments
From: To: Increments:
$0 $19 $1
$20 $49 $2
$50 $99 $5
$100 $249 $10
$250 $499 $25
$500 $999 $50
$1,000 + $100