Early 20th Century Collection of Signed & Inscribed Photographs and an Ephemeral Program Inscribed of Julia Marlowe Sothern and Edward Hugh Sothern, Maude Adams, Katherine Cornell, Katherine Alexander, Otis Skinner & Other Actresses & Actors

New York: Not Published, 1912. Collection includes: A large souvenir program, "Julia Marlowe's Benefit in Behalf of The Hopelessly Crippled French Soldiers" held at the Shubert Theatre May 26th, 1916, with an inscription on the front cover signed by E.H. Sothern, "Dear Harry Kauff(man) - The great thing is to perceive that most people are asses & that nearly everybody is wrong most of the time - "a soft answer turneth away wrath" But I declare that accidents are inevitable & excite the soul - what we must do is to rehearse everybody & everything all the time & keep our hair on - with love...sincerely E.H. Sothern" approx. 10" x 13" size, one large sheet of heavy 'Normandy' watermark paper stock folded to make a cover over the smaller inner program for the event - according to the dedicatory text, various artists gave their services - which included Miss Marlowe & E.H. Sothern & Company performing as well as Sir Herbert Tree, Mrs. (Lillie) Langtry and others; the back of the inner program notes a E.H. Sothern appearance in "If I Were King" at the Shubert on the following evening; the cover with printed titles in dark blue, simply side-tied with the remains of a red, white and blue silk ribbon; with wear and soiling, and old paper rub-hole at front margin, about good overall; the inner program printed at the Arrow Press Inc. New York and very good; the team of (and later husband & wife) Edward Hugh Sothern (1859 - 1933) & Julia Marlowe (1866 - 1950) very well-known and popular as the premier Shakespearean interpreters in America at the time, making Shakespeare accessible, especially for a larger public; (with) an undated, circa 1900 signed photograph of E.H. Sothern, taken with two other handsomely dressed unidentified gentlemen strolling down a railroad station platform - Sothern signed in ink below his image; no studio or photographer noted, photo approx. 6" x 8 1/4", mounted to an old gray card mount which has been trimmed away at bottom margin; photo with a tiny edge-tear at top, otherwise very good as is the bold signature; (with) A large sepia-toned photograph inscribed and signed by E.H. Sothern, taken while costumed in his role as MacBeth, inscribed at top right "For Wm Kauffman with the regards of E.H. Sothern"; the photo signed in white ink bottom right 'Notman Boston' and is 10 1/4" x 13 1/4" approx. size; corners chipped, closed tears (with one through a letter of the inscription) with old repairs on back; a few spots showing in the lighter area, otherwise a good strong image of the actor in one of his most famous roles; (with) a very beautifully-taken head-and-shoulders portrait of Julia Marlowe (Sothern) in elaborate brocaded costume wearing headscarf, inscribed below in black ink, "To Mrs. Kauffman in remembrance of "Viola" and Julia Marlowe Sothern 1912"; image approx. 9 3/4" x 13" size; with the studio stamp of White N.Y. at right margin; some corner wear, the 'Sothern' and a few other letters dimming in the inscription, about very good overall and a striking image of the actress; (with) another White N.Y. large photograph, this of both Julia & Edward Sothern, in their costumed roles of Romeo & Juliet, inscribed at the bottom margin "To Mr. Kauffman in remembrance of both of us! Julia Marlowe Sothern 1912" approx. 10" x 13"; top right corner chipped away, little edgewear at bottom, otherwise very good and sharply - taken; (with) a 6" x 9" approx. size photograph, a copy of a famous earlier image by Arnold Genthe of Julia Marlowe Sothern as Juliet, inscribed at lower margin, "To Erwin Carl Kauffman son of our friend & coworker. Julia Marlowe Sothern May 1920.", unevenly trimmed, some wear and the inscription still very bold, good condition; (with) an inscribed photograph "To my darlingest Mr. Kaufman & Mrs. Kaufman - May we meet again Katherine Alexander" Katherine Alexander (1898 - 1981) part-Cherokee American actress; the photograph pencil signed by the photographer (illegible) on the margin below, dated 1923; approx. 8 3/4" x 13 3/4" including mount - image 6" x 10 1/4" approx., matte photo-paper; closed tears at edges, soiling, some crinkling into the top of the image, about good condition; (with) an 8" x 10" portrait of Maude Adams (Maude Ewing Kiskadden) (1872 - 1953) American actress, best known for her great success as the character Peter Pan, with the studio stamp of Fernand de Gueldre Chicago on back; inscribed at lower margin, "To Mr. and Mrs. Kaufman - with all good wishes from Maude Adams 1932" light wear & soil, corner crease; in very good condition; (with) an inscribed portrait photo off Otis Skinner (1858 - 1942) American stage actor, inscribed "To Fred Kaufman cordially yours Otis Skinner 1932" approx. 3 1/4" x 4 1/2", with the photographer's stamp on back of Irving - Allen - Fox Studio Denver; light wear and soil, very good; (with) 3 additional 8" x 10" photographs of theatre stars of the past, inscribed to the Kaufmanms as well (names indecipherable); photographed by Standiford Studio Louisville, Bachrach and Florence Vandamm; these all in good condition; an interesting group of signed early 20th century signed theatre material, in overall good condition, especially so for the personal inscriptions by these stars, all to one family, for good provenance.. Photography. Not Bound. Good.