Tune-Dex Card Take Me In Your Arms 1943 Mitchell Parish ASCAP Mills Music For Sale

This vintage Tune-Dex card for the song “Take Me In Your Arms” is a compact piece of professional sheet music ephemera dating from July 15, 1943, offering a direct window into the music industry practices of the World War II era. Issued by Tune-Dex Inc. at 1619 Broadway in New York City, New York County, this card was designed for quick reference by bandleaders, radio musicians, and arrangers who needed melody lines, chord changes, and lyrics at a glance. The front panel displays detailed publishing and rights information: the performing rights were licensed through ASCAP, with words by the celebrated lyricist Mitchell Parish and music by Fred Markush. Mitchell Parish is best known for his contributions to classics such as “Star Dust” and “Sophisticated Lady,” and his name adds significant collectible value to any piece of sheet music. The copyright history is unusually layered, noting an original 1931 copyright by Fred Markush, a 1932 German copyright by Musikalienhandlung Alberti G.M.B.H. Berlin, a 1932 U.S. and Canadian copyright by Mills Music Inc., and a separate 1943 copyright by George Goodwin for this specific Tune-Dex arrangement. The publisher, Mills Music Inc., shared the same 1619 Broadway address as Tune-Dex Inc., indicating a close business relationship during the heyday of New York’s Tin Pan Alley. A notable historical detail is the warning printed at the bottom: the card was intended for professional use only, and anyone reselling it would be prosecuted under copyright law. While legally obsolete for a collectible of this age, that warning provides fascinating context about how song publishers controlled distribution in the 1940s.The reverse side carries the musical notation itself, set in standard treble clef with chord symbols above the staff and the full lyrics printed below. The lyrics evoke romantic themes, including references to thrilling again, a hungry heart, and one hour of gladness. The printing is clear and sharp on off-white cardstock that shows only gentle, uniform toning consistent with seventy years of storage. No tears, major creases, heavy foxing, or handwritten markings are visible; the edges remain crisp and the corners intact, giving the card a well-preserved appearance. The small catalog number “27” appears vertically along the right edge, likely an internal Tune-Dex inventory identifier. Original pricing for orchestrated arrangements is listed at 75 cents, and for vocal orchestrations in various keys also at 75 cents, with fields for piano copies and recordings left blank. This Tune-Dex card is a tangible artifact from an era when professional musicians relied on compact reference formats rather than full sheet music booklets. Its connection to Mitchell Parish and the specific 1943 printing date make it a targeted find for collectors of vintage sheet music, music industry ephemera, and WWII-era Americana. The card remains legible and usable for study or display, preserving both the song’s musical content and the business machinery behind popular music during the golden age of Broadway publishing.