BASIL RATHBONE - AUTOGRAPH LETTER SIGNED 07/17/1959 - HFSID 257228

BASIL RATHBONE
Rathbone handwrote and signed this letter to Mary Sandman in 1959 from New York City. In it, he writes about two German shepherd dogs that he used to own and about New York City: "This is an incredible city - there is no other quite like it in the world. It is very exciting - but hard - detached & completely unsympathetic".
Autograph letter signed "Basil Rathbone" in blue ink. 1 page, 8¼x10¾. Dated "Tuesday". In full: "Dear Miss Sandman, Thanks for yours & the perfectly delightful enclosure [illegible] the [illegible] dog! I had 2 black German Shepherds once - both lived to ripe old ages 14 & 12. Years old. I have never liked any breed of dog so much - very intelligent, affectionate & great companions. I am glad you had a nice holiday - This is an incredible city - there is no other quite like it in the world. It is very exciting - but hard - detached & completely unsympathetic - We are scheduled for Boston on Nov: 2 for 2 weeks at the Colonial Theatre. Best wishes. Sincerely". Lightly toned and creased. Folded once horizontally and twice vertically and unfolded. Otherwise in fine condition. Accompanied by: Original mailing envelope, postmarked New York City, July 17, 1959 and addressed to "Miss Mary Sandman," Roxbury, Massachusetts. Lightly toned, soiled and creased. Address is lightly smeared and spotted but legible. Torn open at top edge. Discolored at top and left edge. Otherwise in fine condition. Rathbone (1892-1967, born Philip St. John Basil Rathbone in Johannesburg, South Africa), who appeared on Broadway 23 times and won the 1948 Tony Award for Best Actor in a Play (The Heiress), is also known for his film work in period costume dramas. He was nominated for Academy Awards for Best Supporting Actor for playing Tybalt in Romeo and Juliet (1936) and King Louis XVI in If I Were King (1938). Rathbone also appeared as Murdstone in David Copperfield (1934), Evremonde in Tale of Two Cities (1935), Pontius Pilate in The Last Days of Pompeii (1936), Karenin in Anna Karenina (1936) and Guy of Gisbourne in The Adventures of Robin Hood (1938). In 1939, he was cast as Sherlock Holmes in The Hound of the Baskervilles, the first of 14 screen appearances as Conan Doyle's master detective. Rathbone also played Holmes on radio from 1939 to 1946.