Printing Plate. Hail, Columbia. Sheet Music Cover. <em>Hail, Columbia.</em> Sheet music cover. Copper. 13.25 x 11.25 inches. Among the more beautiful engraved copper plates we have seen from the archive thus far, in the opinion of the cataloguer. The metal is very lustrous, rich orange copper, predominately brilliant with the exception of copper brown, deeper orange, and light accents of violet and blue where the piece has been most handled. A few handprints are thus seen, but most are trivial in nature except for a long thin scratch seen through the lower half of the engraved design. This is long, but not too visually distracting. The engraving shows Columbia, horsewhip held high, driving a Romanesque four-horse chariot. The chariot is atop a globe, and is positioned on the United States, with Mexico seen below and the title, "Hail Columbia! Happy Land" below with a treble clef and a few notes of music. A spectacular piece of engravers art, large and impressive in every respect. A proof impression from the plate is included.
