Carolina Moon (Sheet Music Cover)
Graphic Print (Sheet Music) • Illustration by LEFF (Sydney Leff); Composers Benny Davis and Joe Burke; Publisher Joe Morris Music Co.
Style & Movement
Art Deco/Roaring Twenties Commercial Graphic Art
Medium & Technique
Multi-color lithography or offset printing on paper, featuring a photographic halftone insert
Creation Period
1928 (Copyright date of the composition)
Dimensions & Format
Approximately 9 x 12 inches; Portrait format (standard large-format sheet music)
Subject Description
The cover features a stylized Art Deco illustration of a woman in a tiered hoop-skirt gown looking at a moonlit landscape, framed within a crest shape. It includes a photographic portrait of singer Arthur Randall in the lower left corner against a vibrant magenta and cream striped background.
Condition & Value Assessment
Condition Assessment
Good to Fair; visible age-toning and structural wear to edges
Estimated Market Value
$15 - $35 USD
Auction Estimate
$10 - $25 USD
Provenance History
Original retail via 'Lincoln Music Shop, 420 Lincoln Ave., Milwaukee, Wis.' based on the dealer stamp
Art Historical Significance
A representative example of Tin Pan Alley era commercial art. 'Carolina Moon' was a massive hit in 1928-29, particularly for Gene Austin. The cover illustrates the transition from 19th-century romanticism to the bold, geometric sensibilities of Art Deco.
Notable Features
Features the distinctive artist signature 'LEFF' in the lower right; includes a music store stamp from Milwaukee, WI, which adds regional historical context.
Condition Issues
Visible foxing/staining on the bottom right cream section; corner bumping and creasing on the top left; slight tanning (acidification) of the paper; surface wear and minor ink loss along the spine edge.
Conservation Recommendations
Store in an acid-free, archival-quality Mylar sleeve with a buffered backing board. Keep away from direct UV light to prevent further fading of the magenta ink.