LOUISE MONTAGUE - AUTOGRAPH SENTIMENT SIGNED 07/24/1892 CO-SIGNED BY: CAMILLE D'ARVILLE, FLORA FINLAYSON - HFSID 35300

LOUISE MONTAGUE, CAMILLE D'ARVILLE and FLORA FINLAYSON
The three illustrious opera singers and actresses sign the sentiments and wishes in black ink. Very rare!
Autograph sentiment signed: "Yours Sincerely/ Louise Montague/ July 24th '92", "Sincerely Yours/ Camille D'arville/ June 16th '93" and "Very Cordially yrs./ Flora Finlayson -" in faded black ink. 1 page front and verso, 7½x4½ affixed to 8¾x5¼ piece of paper with 6½x3¾ hole in center (as to be able to see signatures on both sides). LOUISE MONTAGUE (1859-1910) was an actress and singer, famously winning the "most beautiful woman in America" contest in 1881, which was sponsored by entrepreneur and circus owner Adam Forepaugh, and which many believe to be America's first beauty pageant. After leaving the circus in 1883, Montague went to Europe to pursue instruction on the stage in Paris and Berlin, even performing for a while in England; she returned to the United States to join the original "Pinafore" Co. with whom she starred in productions of Evangeline, The Crystal Slipper, and Sinbad The Sailor. CAMILLA D'ARVILLE (1863-1932) was a comedic opera singer, who born in the Netherlands, began her training at the Amsterdam Conservatory, making her concert debut in 1877; she went on to study in Vienna and London before moving to the United States in 1888. She performed in New York in the opera The Queen's Mate and on Broadway in the musical comedy The Belle of London Town (1907). She joined the famed traveling concert group The Bostonians, of which she served as the "prima donna" in productions of The Bohemian Girl, Robinhood, and The Highwayman. FLORA FINLAYSON (d. 1896) was a reputable opera singer who worked with the Bostonian Opera Company in productions of Patience and Robin Hood. After becoming one of the most well-known opera singers in her native Canada, Finlayson and her family moved to Reno in hopes of furthering Finlayson's career. Her "divine" voice was heard throughout America and even in Europe; however, Finlayson suffered from acute heart disease and was shockingly found dead in her San Francisco hotel room by one of her singing teachers, an event that was much covered by the media. Toned. Worn and soiled. Binding holes in left margin. Typed notes in bottom margin on front and verso. Stained throughout. Ink smeared. Creased throughout. Otherwise, fine condition.