BASIL RATHBONE - AUTOGRAPH LETTER SIGNED 10/18 - HFSID 257219

BASIL RATHBONE
Rathbone handwrote and signed this letter to Mary Sandman in 1947, talking about his "very big hit" ("which wont [sic] reach Boston for a long time, naturally") and about his hectic Mondays: "Its [sic] a terrific rush - but I do it!"
Autograph letter signed "Basil Rathbone". 1 page, 7¾x9¾, fabric-textured paper. Addressed "Biltmore Theatre", New York City, dated "Saty 18 0ct." Addressed to Roxbury, Massachusetts. In full: "Dear Miss Sandman Thanks so much for your charming letter. Yes we have a very big hit, which wont [sic] reach Boston for a long time, naturally. I make up for the play before I go to my radio show - rehearse & do the radio - Leave Mutual at 8.28 30 & am on the stage here at 8.40. Its [sic] a terrific rush - but I do it! Thank god it is only Mondays! I'll watch out for the doll exhibit - I haven't seen it & neither has my daughter. Every good wish to Jon & yours.". Lightly toned and creased. Folded once vertically and twice horizontally and unfolded. Otherwise in fine condition. Accompanied by: Original mailing envelope, postmarked New York City, Oct. 18, 1947 and addressed to "Miss Mary Sandman," Roxbury, Massachusetts. Lightly toned and creased. Address is lightly smeared but legible. Penciled heart on flap in unknown hand. Torn open at top 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.