My love of vintage sheet music began several years ago when I bought, by accident, a box of music at a charity aution thinking it was records. I was dissapointed at first but the more I saw of the covers the happier it made me, until in the end I was over the moon it was not records.

Since then I've collected and sold vintage sheet music and love the older music mainly because of the Art Work of the covers some of which is truly works of art from some of the best design artists of their era, including Picasso. Many of these artist didn't sign this work because they thought it 'too' commercial for true artists, it was bread and butter work, so it has to be judged by the buyer simply on how much it appeals to you the viewer. 

Many of the covers because they were instant, the 'pop' music of the time are fine examples of a moment in history both socially and culturally, ephemera at its most instant. Some of the social history particularly of the 1930-50's is quite striking particularly seen through the eyes of the Civil Rights movements, for example. There is hardly a human emotion or condition that hasn't been sung about, heartbreak, home and country, humour, joie de vivre and especially of course love.   

Condition is of course important although a finely designed cover can be forgiven for signs of use, in fact it is should be expected if orginal. The paper used in popular music was at times not of the finest quality and if it has been played most will show use on the front page, often half way down the page, where the musician has opened the page to play on stage and in haste, this is mostly almost unnoticable when the sheet is closed and as long as you are careful when on stage it should not deter you playing it. If you want to play it regularly, take a photocopy and use that on you're on stage. Some will have pencil notes on the music, not too difficult to gently remove with a soft rubber, but as long as it can't be seen through the cover is best left. Some marks and signs of use are normal, be prepared to pay a premium for pristine copies, or popular songs or particularly striking covers, badly marked etc, poor condition are correspondingly less expensive and are really only of interest if the music is highly desirable and difficult to find in better condition, or if you just love it . If in doubt don't undertake your own cleaning or restoration, consult a reputable print restorer, paper will be lost forever with the wrong treatment.