Lot 26
Civil War
Huge Civil War-Era Boston Theatre Playbill Archive, Incl. 9 John Wilkes Booth!
A sensational collection of nineteenth-century ephemera for the serious Civil War, Lincoln/Booth, or theater enthusiast!
This sizable archive is comprised of nearly 50 theatre playbills, circa 1861-1864, the vast majority from Boston. The productions advertised therein ranged from opera, drama, comedy, and music, to vaudeville, black minstrel, acrobatic, and novelty, and starred the most famous actors, singers, musicians, and entertainers of the day. Featuring 9 playbills advertising Lincoln assassin John Wilkes Booth, and 3 others with Booth associations. Also featuring playbills touting Kate Reignolds, Patrick S. Gilmore, Hernandez's Ravel Troupe, Buckleys' Serenaders, and the Ethiopian Burlesque Opera, among many other performers!
Theatre locations are in Boston, Massachusetts unless otherwise stated. Playbills from cities other than Boston include New York City and Port-au-Prince, Haiti. Expected wear throughout, including toning, foxing, and paper folds and wrinkles. A handful with small tears or repairs. Else very good to near fine.
John Wilkes Booth
1. Boston Museum playbill, May 9, 1862, advertising upcoming performances by John Wilkes Booth and Kate Reignolds, the latter playing female leads in "Peg Woffington" and the "Invisible Prince." Double-sided, with New York press reviews of Booth's past performances in "Richard III" verso. (SK24528)
2. Boston Museum playbill, January 19, 1863, advertising John Wilkes Booth's upcoming performance as the title role in Shakespeare's "Richard III." Minor mounting traces, else near fine. (SK24525)
In part: "Engagement of J. Wilkes Booth, This Young American Actor, the rapidity of whose professional progress, and the brilliancy of whose success is almost without a parallel in the records of the stage, will make his first appearance this season..."
3. Boston Museum playbill, January 20, 1863, advertising John Wilkes Booth as Claude Melnotte, and Kate Reignolds as Pauline, in an upcoming performance of Bulwer-Lytton's "The Lady of Lyons." Professionally repaired at lower right. Isolated scattered foxing, else near fine. 5.125" x 13.625". (SK24524)
4. Boston Museum playbill, January 26, 1863, advertising John Wilkes Booth's upcoming performance as Macbeth in "the Scottish play," opposite Kate Reignolds as Lady Macbeth. Isolated mounting traces, else near fine. 4.625" x 11.125". (SK24522)
In part: "Second Week of J. Wilkes Booth in View of the Continued Rush to Witness the Efforts of the Young American Tragedian, Applications for Reserved Seats will still be Received any Number of Days in Advance."
5. Boston Museum playbill, January 29, 1863, advertising John Wilkes Booth's upcoming performances as Charles de Moor in the German-language tragedy "Robbers," as well as Romeo in "Romeo & Juliet" and Alfred Evelyn in "Money." Light expected wear, else near fine. 4.875" x 13.375". (SK24527)
In part, with unchanged spelling: "The Management would urge an Early Application for Seats as the Extraordinary Furore Excited by this Young Artist's Histrionic Efforts, has never been equalled by any Star at the Museum."
6. Boston Museum playbill, February 2-4, 1863, advertising John Wilkes Booth's upcoming performances as the main characters Phidias and Raphael Duchatlet in the drama "The Marble Heart, Or--The Sculptor's Dream." The 5-act play recounts the story of an ancient Roman sculptor reincarnated as a modern day Frenchman, whose sculptures come alive. Near fine. (SK24521)
7. Boston Museum playbill, February 13, 1863, advertising John Wilkes Booth's double Shakespearean engagement as Shylock in "The Merchant of Venice," and Petruchio in "Katharine & Petruchio." In the 4-act comedy, Kate Reignolds co-starred as Portia. Isolated scattered foxing, else near fine. (SK24523)
8. Boston Museum playbill, May 18, 1864, advertising John Wilkes Booth's upcoming performances in "Damon and Pythias," "The Wife--A Tale of Mantua," "The Marble Heart," and "The Corsican Brothers." Also drumming up business for the comedy "Serious Family," starring Kate Reignolds as the Widow Delame. Minor mounting traces, else near fine. (SK24529)
9. Boston Museum playbill, May 26, 1864, advertising John Wilkes Booth's upcoming performances as the main characters Phidias and Raphael Duchatlet in the drama "The Marble Heart, Or--The Sculptor's Dream." Minor mounting traces, else near fine. (SK24526)
John Wilkes Booth Associations
10-12. Three 1863 playbills advertising performances by Maggie Mitchell, John Wilkes Booth's occasional romantic lead, playing the title roles of Fanchon and Marie in "Fanchon, the Cricket" and "Pearl of Savoy, Or--The Mother's Prayer" respectively. Both 5-act plays, "Fanchon" depicts rural peasant life, while "Pearl" treats Continental aristocrats. Isolated scattered foxing, else near fine. (SK24541)
-Howard Athenaeum, February 26, 1863. Slightly torn upper left corner. 5.25" x 17.25".
-Boston Theatre, December 3, 1863.
-Boston Theatre, December 26, 1863. 5.125" x 16.5".
Boston Museum
13. Boston Museum playbill, December 25, 1861, advertising three upcoming performances of "Octoroon! Or--Life in Louisiana," with Kate Reignolds playing the title role of Zoe, an illegitimate mixed-race slave. The 5-act play depicts scenes from a slave auction, lynch trial, steamer fire, and stereotypical Louisiana "plantation life." Isolated foxing, else near fine. 4.875" x 17.125". (SK24540)
14-16. Three Boston Museum playbills, 1861-1863, advertising upcoming performances of Shakespearean tragedies and comedies. Isolated foxing and some mounting traces verso, else near fine. (SK24536)
-Boston Museum, February 22, 1861, "Othello," starring Kate Reignolds as Desdemona.
-Boston Museum, June 27, 1862, "Hamlet," starring Kate Reignolds as Ophelia. 4.75" x 13.75".
-Boston Museum, October 5, 1863, "Much Ado About Nothing," starring Kate Reignolds as Beatrice.
17-18. Two Boston Museum playbills, 1862-1863, advertising upcoming performances by the father/daughter duo Peter and Caroline Richings in "The Enchantress" and "Satanella," two melodramas with a pronounced European flavor. (SK24470)
-Boston Museum, March 3, 1862.
-Boston Museum, April 13, 1863.
Boston Theatre
19-21. Three Boston Theatre playbills, 1863, advertising upcoming performances by Hernandez's Ravel Troupe. Artists performed on the trapeze, horizontal bar, and tight-rope, and interpreted French and Spanish folk dances. Isolated chipped edges or mounting traces. Scattered foxing, else very good to near fine. (SK24539)
-Boston Theatre, April 2, 1863. Minor rip to top.
-Boston Theatre, April 6, 1863. 5.25" x 17".
-Boston Theatre, April 15, 1863.
22-29. Eight Boston Theatre playbills, 1864, advertising various opera. (SK24470)
-Boston Theatre, January 4, 1864, advertising "La Traviata," "Norma," and "Ione, Or--The Last Days of Pompeii." Minor loss at bottom.
-Boston Theatre, January 12, 1864. Small tear at top.
-Boston Theatre, January 15, 1864. Repair to damaged corners.
-Boston Theatre, May 3, 1864, advertising "La Dame Blanche" and "Faust" as well as other ballets and operas.
-Boston Theatre, May 4, 1864.
-Boston Theatre, May 5, 1864.
-Boston Theatre, May 7, 1864.
-Boston Theatre, May 12, 1864, advertising upcoming performances of the Grand German Opera, including "Fidelio" and "Martha."
30-32. Three undated Boston Theatre playbills, advertising upcoming performances by French and Italian opera and dramatic companies. (SK24470)
-Boston Theatre, January 16, [n.y.], advertising the 3-act opera "Fra Diavolo." Scattered tears and mounting traces. 5.75" x 25".
-Boston Theatre, January 20, [n.y.]. Several repairs to damaged edges and corners, else very good.
-Boston Theatre, March 28, [n.y.].
New Tremont Theatre
33-36. Four New Tremont Theatre playbills, circa 1863-1864. Isolated foxing and some mounting traces verso. (SK24534)
-New Tremont Theatre, March 2-4, 1863, advertising Spanish ballet and the pantomime of "Jocko the Brazilian Ape."
-New Tremont Theatre, June 4, 1864, advertising a performance of "La Bayadere," a medley of different dance styles including "The Negro Eccentricity…the Challenge Dance."
-New Tremont Theatre, May 16, [n.y.], advertising Mr. Sconcia's violin solo and the 3-act French comedy "Les Mémoires du Diable." Double-sided, with period advertisements verso. 4.625" x 17.5".
-New Tremont Theatre, printed on canary yellow paper, advertising vaudeville and circus acts such as the "Cloud Swing."
Tremont Temple
37-39. Three 1863 Tremont Temple playbills advertising patriotic concerts by Patrick S. Gilmore, U.S. Army Band leader. Isolated minor foxing. (SK24538)
-Tremont Temple, September 26, 1863.
-Tremont Temple, October 11, 1863, advertising "Gilmore's Grand Sacred Concert," featuring former child prodigy and violinist Camilla Urso. Printed on golden rod yellow paper. 5.375" x 11.5".
-Tremont Temple, to benefit "Sanitary Departments of six Boston Regiments…" Double-sided, with period advertisements verso. 5.5" x 10.5".
Howard Athenaeum
40-41. Two Howard Athenaeum playbills, 1862-1863, advertising performances starring Adah Isaacs Menken, the celebrated actress and poet, as well as Mr. & Mrs. William Jermyn Florence, the theatrical power couple. Upcoming performances of "Camille," "Dog Show," "Irish Mormon," "Thrice Married," and "Returned Volunteer." (SK24539)
-Howard Athenaeum, June 28, 1862.
-Howard Athenaeum, May 2, 1863. 5.25" x 17".
Allston Hall
42. Allston Hall playbill, October 16, 1862, advertising American Prima Donna Julia Gould in an adaptation of "Lucretia Borgia" by the Ethiopian Burlesque Opera Troupe. Expected wear including paper folds, scattered foxing, and minor chipped edges, else very good to near fine. 10" x 28.5". (SK24535)
The playbill promises "a Programme Devoted Almost Exclusively to Fun, Mingled with enough Music to assuage to Boisterous Cachinations, embracing every conceivable Phase of Darkey Life…"
43. Allston Hall playbill, December 8, 1862, advertising upcoming performances by Buckleys' Serenaders, Brass Band and Ethiopian Burlesque Opera Troupe. Featured songs include "Black your boots, Sir?" and "Three Contrabans." A few mounting traces visible at top. (SK24470)
Buckleys' Serenaders, originally the New Orleans Minstrels, were a popular blackface minstrel group that traveled throughout America and Europe. They were one of the most popular minstrel groups in the United States during the 1850s and 1860s.
Boston Academy of Museum
44. Boston Academy of Music playbill, October 9, 1862, advertising upcoming performances of "Lucretia Borgia," "I Puritani," and "Lucia di Lammermoor." Boldly printed in jet black ink. A few mounting traces visible, else near fine. (SK24470)
Other
45-46. Two French-language playbills from Port-au-Prince, Haiti, circa 1864, advertising upcoming performances of "Othello," "Catherine Howard," "Galatea," "Torreador," "Les Meli-Melo de la Rue Meslay," "A Cup of Tea," and "When You Want to Kill Your Dog." Both large and dramatically printed, with minor mounting traces verso. (SK24470)
47. Niblo's Garden (New York, New York) playbill, March 19, 1863, advertising upcoming performances of the father/daughter duo Peter and Caroline Richings in "The Enchantress" and "Satanella," two melodramas with a pronounced European flavor. Overall light toning and scattered foxing. Repaired minor tears at upper left. 8.5" x 22.25". (SK24470)
48. Wallack's (New York, New York) playbill, March 20, 1863, advertising upcoming performance of Bulwer-Lytton's "Money." Overall light toning. (SK24535)
49. American Theatre (New York, New York) playbill, circa September 1863, advertising an array of versatile divertissements like "The Spectre of Witchley, Or, A Night with the Ghosts." Isolated discoloration and a few chipped edges, else very good to near fine. 9" x 24". (SK24535)
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