HENRY CLAY BARNABEE - AUTOGRAPH SENTIMENT SIGNED CO-SIGNED BY: HENRY KYRLE BELLEW, CORA URQUHART BROWN POTTER, TOM (THOMAS O'CARROLL) KARL - HFSID 304475

NOTED STAGE PERFORMERS (1870s to 1900s): HENRY CLAY BARNABEE, CORA BROWN POTTER, TOM KARL and HAROLD KYRLE BELLEW
Handwritten sentiments and an autograph quotation on separate sheets
Collection of four pieces, attached in pairs, includes: 1) Autograph Sentiment signed: "Cheerily Yours/Henry Clay Barnabee", 4x2; affixed to 2) Autograph Sentiment signed: "I am most/sincerely yours/Tom Karl/'The Bostonians', 5x4½"; 3) Autograph Quotation signed: "Heaven were not as bright/if care or fear of what might/chance on Earth could touch/the Angels' - 'Loyal Love'/Cora Urquhart Potter", 6x3¾; affixed to 4) Signature: "Kyrle Bellew", 4x1½. To an overall size of 6x7 (4 surfaces). HENRY CLAY BARNABEE (1833-1917), baritone vocalist and comic actor, was an original member of the Boston Ideal Opera Company (1879), better known as "the Bostonians". The Bostonians performed light opera, including works of Gilbert & Sullivan. Barnabee was particularly noted for humorous parts, especially the Sheriff of Nottingham in Reginald De Koven's Robin Hood. CORA URQUHART BROWN POTTER (1857-1936), born Mary Cora Urquhart, married financier Joseph Brown Potter in 1877. The couple divorced in 1900, but she continued to perform with her married name. Cora Brown Potter, among the first American society women to perform on the stage, debuted in England in Civil War (1877). Returning to America, she performed that same play in New York with Harold Kyrle Bellew, and continued to tour with him for 10 years. TOM KARL (1842-1916), born Thomas O'Carroll in Dublin, Ireland, was a tenor, and a performer and manager of The Bostonians. He often played the title role in the light opera company's popular Robin Hood. He also sang with famed American diva Clara Louise Kellogg. HAROLD KYRLE BELLEW (1850-1911) was an English-born stage actor, popular in Australia and the US as well as his native land. Considered the most handsome actor of his day, Bellew excelled in stage melodramas, including A Gentlemen of France (1901, also made into a silent film). He also played comedic and romantic leads, including Romeo to Flora Robson's Juliet (1903). He toured with Cora Brown Potter for ten years. Bellew also spent time as a merchant seaman, and made a fortune in Australian gold mining. He was the father of film actor Cosmo Kyrle Bellew (1885-1948). Worn. Lightly creased. Ink note (unknown hand) to the right of Bellew's signature. Otherwise, fine condition.