Details
[BOOTH, John Wilkes]. GARDNER, Alexander. Four carte-de-visite albumen prints of Booth including one of Booth facing ¼ left with an imprint and title, "J. Wilkes Booth/Fay 704 Broadway, N.Y.", 90 x 60 mm.; another of Booth seated, holding his gold-handled whip with his left arm on his hip, 91 x 53 mm.; and two others, mounted together on later card, 4o . All undated.
Booth, "the handsomest man in America," was also one of the most admired actors of his day; there are contemporary accounts of women carrying him offstage at the final curtain and mobs of young female fans tearing at his clothes. In any case, the actor's loyalties did not prevent many households throughout the Union having cartes-de-visite of the dashing young man in their family photo albums, although many are believed to have been destroyed in the wake of the assassination.
Provenance: Philip Sang collection sale 26 April 1979, lot 201 (part). (4)
Booth, "the handsomest man in America," was also one of the most admired actors of his day; there are contemporary accounts of women carrying him offstage at the final curtain and mobs of young female fans tearing at his clothes. In any case, the actor's loyalties did not prevent many households throughout the Union having cartes-de-visite of the dashing young man in their family photo albums, although many are believed to have been destroyed in the wake of the assassination.
Provenance: Philip Sang collection sale 26 April 1979, lot 201 (part). (4)