John Wilkes Booth, Script for The Son of the Night, Signed

Description

John Wilkes Booth signature on a script for The Son of the Night. A volume from “French’s Standard Drama” series, No. CLXIX. 

The play dates from Booth’s apprentice years on the Baltimore and Richmond stages in the late 1850s.  Most likely, Booth was an understudy for this play. Included are costume descriptions, entrances and exits, blocking, “and the whole of the State Business.”

With a solid provenance trail, originating fron the Booth family: Joseph A. Booth (youngest brother of Wilkes) family; Charles Hamilton Autographs, Inc.; John Lattimer, signed and dated on inside cover; ALBS; private collector; ALBS.

Excellent condition with a dark signature; some erasure marks on the title page near, but not touching, the signature (w/ a few very small holes resulting but no loss of text).  

Booth, John Wilkes. ACTOR’S SCRIPT, SIGNED (“J. W. Booth”) vertically on the title page.  Gayler, Charles. The Son of the Night: A Drama in Three Days: and Prologue.  N.Y.:  S. French, (1857).  4-1/2” x 7-1/4”; 42(2)pp.; plain wrappers. In a folding Solander case with gilt descriptive label on cover.