John Wilkes Booth 3 years before his notoriety...
Item # 705983
March 20, 1862
NEW YORK TRIBUNE, March 20, 1862
* John Wilkes Booth theater ad
* Civil War original reporting
Page 2 contains one of the fascinating tidbits of history which delight collectors, in this case an inconspicuous advertisement for a theatrical production of Richard III at the Mary Provost Theater in New York--starring John Wilkes Booth. See the photo for the complete ad which notes the: "...Engagement of the young Tragedian, J. WILKES BOOTH, whose appearance has been hailed with the Greatest Enthusiasm by houses crowded in every part..." with a bit more.
It's always terrific to find reports of notables in history--both famous and infamous--before they would become more widely known to the world.
Pages 5, 6 & 7 have much Civil War reporting including a nice map headed: "Sugar Creek--The Battle Field" with related text.
Eight pages, never trimmed, minimal margin wear, small loss near the top of the right margin affects no text.
AI notes: In 1862, John Wilkes Booth—already a rising star of the American stage—appeared in Shakespeare’s Richard III at Mary (or Provost’s) Theatre in New York City, one of the city’s leading dramatic venues on Broadway. Booth was especially acclaimed for this role, which suited his intense physical style, powerful voice, and flair for villainous charisma; critics often remarked on his energetic, almost ferocious interpretation of Richard, distinguishing him from the more polished but restrained performances of his famous brother Edwin Booth. His New York engagement at Provost’s Theatre helped solidify his reputation as a major tragedian during the Civil War era, drawing large audiences despite wartime tensions. Ironically, Booth’s repeated embodiment of Shakespeare’s ruthless usurper in Richard III would later loom large in public memory after his 1865 assassination of Abraham Lincoln, casting a dark retrospective shadow over what had been, in 1862, a celebrated theatrical triumph.
* John Wilkes Booth theater ad
* Civil War original reporting
Page 2 contains one of the fascinating tidbits of history which delight collectors, in this case an inconspicuous advertisement for a theatrical production of Richard III at the Mary Provost Theater in New York--starring John Wilkes Booth. See the photo for the complete ad which notes the: "...Engagement of the young Tragedian, J. WILKES BOOTH, whose appearance has been hailed with the Greatest Enthusiasm by houses crowded in every part..." with a bit more.
It's always terrific to find reports of notables in history--both famous and infamous--before they would become more widely known to the world.
Pages 5, 6 & 7 have much Civil War reporting including a nice map headed: "Sugar Creek--The Battle Field" with related text.
Eight pages, never trimmed, minimal margin wear, small loss near the top of the right margin affects no text.
AI notes: In 1862, John Wilkes Booth—already a rising star of the American stage—appeared in Shakespeare’s Richard III at Mary (or Provost’s) Theatre in New York City, one of the city’s leading dramatic venues on Broadway. Booth was especially acclaimed for this role, which suited his intense physical style, powerful voice, and flair for villainous charisma; critics often remarked on his energetic, almost ferocious interpretation of Richard, distinguishing him from the more polished but restrained performances of his famous brother Edwin Booth. His New York engagement at Provost’s Theatre helped solidify his reputation as a major tragedian during the Civil War era, drawing large audiences despite wartime tensions. Ironically, Booth’s repeated embodiment of Shakespeare’s ruthless usurper in Richard III would later loom large in public memory after his 1865 assassination of Abraham Lincoln, casting a dark retrospective shadow over what had been, in 1862, a celebrated theatrical triumph.
Category: Yankee
