BASIL RATHBONE - AUTOGRAPH NOTE SIGNED 07/03/1947 CO-SIGNED BY: PERCY J. ORTHWEIN, CLARA B. ORTHWEIN - HFSID 2675

BASIL RATHBONE, CO-SIGNED BY: PERCY and CLARA ORTHWEIN
Basil Rathbone and Percy and Clara Orthwein signed this clipped page from Hildegarde's guest book in 1947 .
Autograph note signed "Dear Hildy, You are not only a very/fine artist. You are a very real person/& that seems to me equally important-/Love, Basil" and, on verso, "To my charming artiste with best wishes/always-/Percy Orthwein" and "Clara B. Orthwein", plus 1 unidentified signature, all in blue ink. With blue ink and lead pencil marks in unknown hand. 2 pages, 9¼x3½, 1 sheet, front and verso. Titled on Rathbone's side in unknown hand: "July 3rd, 1947". Titled on the Orthweins' side in unknown hand: "June 23"."Hildy" is probably singer Loretta Sell Hildegarde (1906-2005, born in Adell, Wisconsin), popularly known by her last name only or simply as "the incomparable Hildegarde" and who was known almost as well for her parties as for her singing. CLARA ORTHWEIN was the mother of James Busch Orthwein, former owner of the New England Patriots, and granddaughter of Adolphus Busch, one of the founders of Anheuser-Busch. BASIL 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. Lightly toned and creased. Light show-though on Rathbone's side, which touches his note and signature. Percy's signature is lightly spotted, but legible. Folded once and unfolded. Page was torn neatly from book on one edge and cut from larger sheet along bottom edge. Top edge is discolored. Otherwise in fine condition.