{"product_id":"c1840-francis-scott-key-rare-f-s-key-autograph-signature-of-the-author-of-the-star-spangled-banner","title":"c1840 Francis Scott Key — Rare “F. S. Key” Autograph Signature of the Author of “The Star-Spangled Banner”","description":"\u003cp class=\"PDq2pG_selectionAnchorContainer\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFrancis Scott Key (1779–1843). Bold ink signature, “F. S. Key,” on a clipped portion of an original early nineteenth-century manuscript.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan class=\"PDq2pG_selectionAnchor\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAn attractive autograph of Francis Scott Key, the distinguished Maryland attorney, United States attorney for the District of Columbia and author of the words that became America’s national anthem.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eKey witnessed the British bombardment of Fort McHenry during the War of 1812. At dawn on September 14, 1814, he saw the enormous American flag still flying above the fort and composed the poem originally titled “Defence of Fort M’Henry.” Set to music, it became “The Star-Spangled Banner” and was officially adopted as the national anthem of the United States in 1931.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe present example is boldly signed \u003cstrong\u003e“F. S. Key.”\u003c\/strong\u003e in dark ink. The signature displays Key’s characteristic abbreviated form, flowing connected letters and pronounced descending stroke beneath the final “y.” It was evidently clipped from the conclusion of a letter or legal document, a common practice among nineteenth-century autograph collectors.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe paper exhibits expected age toning, scattered foxing and rust-colored staining or offsetting, principally away from the signature. The autograph itself remains dark, complete and highly presentable.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA desirable and displayable autograph of the man whose words gave the United States its national anthem.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Signature Documents LLC","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":52743489716506,"sku":null,"price":995.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/2221\/0931\/files\/IMG_2599.jpg?v=1787746783","url":"https:\/\/www.thearchiveauthority.com\/products\/c1840-francis-scott-key-rare-f-s-key-autograph-signature-of-the-author-of-the-star-spangled-banner","provider":"Signature Documents LLC","version":"1.0","type":"link"}