A late Victorian / early Edwardian professional theatrical album amicorum / friendship / autograph book, with contributions dating from June 1900 to February 1906

Fred Ramsdale, May Henderson etc

Verlag: 1900-1906, 1900

Beschreibung

The book is bound in red cushioned leather with "Album" diagonally in gilt to the front cover, the text block has rounded corners and all edges gilt. Approximately 90 pages, the album used front to back, but with pages skipped so perhaps two thirds full. The condition is poor, the covers are both detached and very rubbed, the spine is gone and many pages are loose, but the contents are generally well preserved. The owner of the book seems to have been a young woman named Maud (possibly Hall or Batterson), a professional actress of some description, connected with the theatre, variety shows, music hall and pantomimes. The penultimate entry was made at Princess's theatre, Glasgow by Lily Hall who writes "Just a few lines in remembrance of a pleasant time spent together in pantomime.". There is an inscription from the Empire Theatre, Douglas by a Charles and Topsy Gladwell which begins "With love & best wishes to our little fairy queen.". Notable comic actor, Fred Ramsdale adds a humorous verse in March 1905, and famous woman blackface performer, May Henderson signs as "Dusky comedy Queen". Contains some beautifully executed sketches, watercolours and cartoons, as well as music and poetry, often quite creatively arranged, with Edward W. and Julia Scorah contributing a battle of the sexes in juxtaposed warring poems titled "To Woman"("that fair & false deceiver") and "To Man"("Trust man for nothing, nor once think him true"). Most entries are signed, or initialled and dated, with locations given. A fascinating insight into the British travelling theatrical community of the early 1900s. Bestandsnummer des Verkäufers 5902

Bibliografische Details

Titel: A late Victorian / early Edwardian ...

Verlag: 1900-1906

Erscheinungsdatum: 1900

Signiert: Signatur des Verfassers