A Little Kiss Each Morning (A Little Kiss Each Night)
Original sheet music for piano and voice; mass-produced commercial print • Illustration by Barbelle (uncredited on cover surface but matching the studio's style for Harms Inc.); Words and Music by Harry Woods
Style & Movement
Art Deco / Roaring Twenties commercial graphic art
Medium & Technique
Lithography on paper; features a halftone photographic reproduction of Rudy Vallee and a stylized line-art illustration
Creation Period
1929 (based on the film release date)
Dimensions & Format
Approximately 9 x 12 inches; vertical portrait format typical of 20th-century large-format sheet music
Subject Description
A romantic cover featuring a medieval-revival illustration of a troubadour serenading a lady in a high-waisted gown against a moonlit window, paired with a portrait of singer Rudy Vallee to promote the RKO film 'The Vagabond Lover'
Condition & Value Assessment
Condition Assessment
Fair to Good; shows visible edge wear, chipping along the left margin, and some surface staining/soiling
Estimated Market Value
$10 - $25 USD
Auction Estimate
$5 - $15 USD
Provenance History
Published by Harms Inc., New York, in association with Chappell & Co. Ltd. Likely from a private collection of vintage ephemera or music memorabilia
Art Historical Significance
Significant as a cultural artifact documenting the transition from silent film to 'talkies' and the rise of the first modern 'crooner' celebrity, Rudy Vallee; represents the golden age of American sheet music illustration
Notable Features
Includes the tagline 'The Radio Picture: The Vagabond Lover'; features the distinct Harms Inc. publisher logo and high-contrast Art Deco color palette
Condition Issues
Chipping and small tears on the spine margin; minor creasing; slight yellowing (toning) of the paper due to age; small dark spot on the 'H' of 'Harms'
Conservation Recommendations
Store in an acid-free, archival-quality plastic sleeve with a rigid backing board; avoid direct sunlight to prevent further fading of the blue and orange inks