JOSEPH JEFFERSON - AUTOGRAPH 1896 CO-SIGNED BY: WILLIAM W. JEFFERSON, CHARLES B. JEFFERSON, THOMAS JEFFERSON, JOSEPH JEFFERSON JR. - HFSID 323533

JOSEPH JEFFERSON, THOMAS JEFFERSON, WILLIAM W.JEFFERSON, CHARLES B. JEFFERSON and JOSEPH JEFFERSON JR.
The famed Rip Van Winkle star and four of his actor sons sign their names together in black ink. Extremely rare!
Signatures: "J. Jefferson", "C.B. Jefferson", "T. Jefferson", 'Joseph Jefferson Jr." and "Will Winter Jefferson" in black ink. 1 page, 6¾x4. On stage since the age of three, American actor JOSEPH JEFFERSON (1829-1905) starred with Laura Keene's company in 19th century stage successes such as Our American Cousin, The Cricket on the Hearth and The Rivals. His most famous part was the title role in Rip Van Winkle (from 1865), which playwright Dion Boucicault adapted for him; the role was brought to film and Jefferson is believed to be the earliest-born actor to ever work in films. The Joseph Jefferson Awards are given out in his honor to Chicago theatrical productions. His son WILLIAM JEFFERSON (1876-1946), appeared in many films in the early twentieth century including Wanted by the Police (1913), The Rivals (1913) and Butterflies and Orange Blossoms (1914), as well as the Broadway productions of The Catch of the Season (1905) and Three Showers (1920). Joseph's son CHARLES B. JEFFERSON (1851-1908) appeared in the short The Biggest Fish He Ever Caught (1897) and worked as a stage manager. Another son, THOMAS JEFFERSON (1856-1932) is best known for his film roles in remakes of his father's role Rip Van Winkle (1914-1921) as well as The Attic Princess (1916) and Ten Nights in a Barroom (1931). JOSEPH JEFFERSON JR. was born in 1869. He was the fourth Joseph Jefferson in the Jefferson theatrical family. He never achieved the same level of stardom his father did, but was part of a travelling company when his father passed away in 1905. Toned. Left edge frayed and irregularly ripped. Lightly soiled throughout. Ink notes in bottom margin in unknown hand. Otherwise, fine condition.