FUQ (eff -yu - cue) - FAQ's with an EDGE

Tagged As: Yesterday Sheet Music

Question:
Are there any sheet music experts out there-I need a little advice. Yesterday at an estate sale (Horrendously overpriced furniture, everything else was *very* reasonable) I found, in a box of old sheet music, the sheet music to As Goes By. I assume it's original (i.e. not reprinted in the '60s)as it has a little blurb for War Bonds on the cover. I paid the princely sum of .10 for it, and the lady behind me in line offered to buy it from me as we were leaving the sale. I declined, but now I'm wondering whether this was some sort of spectacular deal. Is there anyone out there who might be able to fill me in on the worth of the music, or direct me to a reference volume that might have some information? It's in very good condition-no rips or tears. Along a similar line, I ended up with a 1930 Denver Post yesterday, also, as some antique linens I bought were wrapped up around it. It's an interesting issue and I plan to keep it, but what's the best way to keep it from drying out and crumbling, short of rewrapping it in linen tablecloth?

Answer:
Guiheen & Pafik's Sheet Music and Reference Guide lists one version of As Time Goes By (I assume that's what you meant) with Bogart and Bergman on the cover at $15. However...I've never seen sheet music fetch the kind of prices given in these guides. Not around here, anyway. Usually it sells for $2 or 3, unless it's mint and has a picture of a train or model A on it. $.10 is cheap. I usually pay $.50 or $1 at estate sales. The sheet music pricing guides that are out there are very unreliable. As someone who has been collecting sheet music for ten years and who has written a book that used old sheet music covers as illustrations, I would say I am near enough of any expert on this one to give you some guidance. There were many copies of As Time Goes By with Bogart & Bergman on the cover. If that's who's on your cover and the copyright is 1931, it's the original. I have paid $4 or $5 bucks for my copies and think that $10 -$15 is a fair price. Sheet music prices though vary from region to region and, of course, a sheet like that may bring bigger money from a movie memorabillia collecter than a sheet music one. Your sheet should be in very good condition with no tears or signature on the cover to command a $15 price. Good luck selling it, though I would keep it and frame it, it's a lovely cover. BTW, if you frame, don't take the front cover off just frame the whole piece.