In The Valley of Broken Hearts Sheet Music Appraisal
Category: Sheet Music
Description
The item is a piece of vintage sheet music for a song titled "In The Valley of Broken Hearts". The cover features an illustration of a house and trees in a valley, rendered in shades of green, brown, blue, and orange against a light tan background. The title is printed in dark green stylized lettering across the top. Below the illustration, in an ornate box, the writers 'By Moe Thompson, Elmer Olsen, Marie Prescott' are credited. The cover appears to be made of paper and shows signs of age, including some discoloration, creasing, and possible minor tears or wear along the edges. There are publisher markings visible; in the bottom left corner, a rectangular box contains the text "JACK MILLS INC. 152 W. 45th St. New York," indicating the publisher and location. In the bottom right corner, a circular emblem is present, but the text within is difficult to decipher from the image, likely another publisher mark or a union label. The overall aesthetic suggests a publication from the early to mid-20th century, typical of popular sheet music of that era. The illustration style is somewhat stylized and reminiscent of early 20th-century American illustration. The condition appears fair to good, considering its age, with no major damage evident beyond typical handling and aging.
Appraisal Report
Based on my visual examination of the provided image of the sheet music for "In The Valley of Broken Hearts," I assess its condition as fair to good. There is visible discoloration, creasing, and edge wear consistent with considerable age and handling. No major tears or losses appear evident from the image alone. The title, credits, publisher (Jack Mills Inc.), and illustration are clearly discernible, which is positive for value. Authenticity appears likely given the style of the era, the publisher markings typical of vintage sheet music, and the lack of red flags for forgery based solely on the image. However, definitive authenticity verification would require in-person examination to assess paper quality, printing methods, and look for any signs of modern reproduction. Provenance documentation regarding its history of ownership would also enhance authentication. The market for vintage sheet music is generally niche, with value heavily dependent on the song's popularity, the artist(s) associated (if notable), the cover art's appeal, and condition. "In The Valley of Broken Hearts" by Thompson, Olsen, and Prescott is not a widely recognized or historically significant song or writing team, limiting broad demand. While the cover art is typical of the era and has some kitsch appeal, it's not exceptionally striking. Consequently, rarity is not a significant factor driving value here. Key factors impacting value are primarily the condition (which is only fair to good) and the lack of significant notability of the song or writers. Comparables for similar vintage sheet music in this condition and without strong historical or artistic significance typically fall into a modest range. The fact that this is published by Jack Mills, a known publisher of the era, adds a small measure of gravitas, but not significantly to the value for this particular item. In summary, the value is limited by its condition and the lack of broader market interest.
Appraisal Value
$5 - $15