CHARLOTTE SAUNDERS CUSHMAN - AUTOGRAPH LETTER SIGNED CO-SIGNED BY: EDWARD "NED" HANLAN - HFSID 49520

CHARLOTTE SAUNDERS CUSHMAN and EDWARD "NED" HANLAN
Actor Charlotte Saunders Cushman wrote this letter on her monogrammed stationery to say that she would attend dinner and to ask if her carriage could be open. Affixed to an album leaf signed by rower Edward Hanlan.
Autograph letter signed "Charlotte Cushman" in purple ink, affixed to an album leaf signed "Edward Hanlan" in black ink on verso. 1 page letter, 4x5½, on Cushman's monogrammed stationery, affixed to a 6¾x4 album leaf with rounded right corners and signed by Hanlan on verso. Cushman wrote this letter to "My dear friend" to say that she would come to dinner and to ask "can the carriage be open The air does me so much good". American actor CUSHMAN (1816-1876) is considered to be the first stage star to be born in the United States. In her 17-year career as an actor and, briefly, an opera singer (1835-1852), she became known for her powerful performances in tragedies, as well as performing in men's roles (she and her sister Susan were famous for their performance of Romeo and Juliet, with Charlotte as Romeo), and scored triumphs in both the United States an Great Britain. Her most popular role was Meg Merrillies in Guy Mannering, but she was also known for her performance of Lady Macbeth in Macbeth, the title role of Hamlet, Cardinal Wolsey in Henry VIII, Bianca in Fazio and Nancy Sykes in Oliver Twist. After retiring, she used her fame to promote the careers of other woman artists. A lesbian, Cushman had romantic relationships with several women, but these did nothing to damage her career or reputation during her lifetime. Canadian sculler HANLAN (1855-1908) rowed professionally from the 1871 to 1900, most successfully in solo events, and was world sculling champion from 1880 to 1884. Although he was only 5 feet 8 inches tall and had a relatively slow rate of strokes-per-minute, he regularly beat rowers larger and stronger than he was, thanks in part to a highly efficient stroke and a technologically advanced rowing shell, dubbed "the Cigarette", with then-space age innovations like a sliding seat and swivel oarlocks.He was especially well-known for beating American and British rowers and was American champion from 1877 to 1885. Lightly toned, creased and rippled. Hanlan's signature has bled lightly but is legible. ¾-inch tear in letter, which touches body of letter but not signature. Leaf and letter were neatly torn from binding along left edge. Light nick in leaf at right edge. Letter was folded once and unfolded. Otherwise in fine condition.