RICHARD MANSFIELD - AUTOGRAPH LETTER SIGNED - HFSID 304652

RICHARD MANSFIELD
He graciously accepts a gift of roses from a lady
Autograph Letter signed: "Richard Mansfield", 2 pages (front and verso), 4¾x7¾. No place, "Wednesday", no date. On personal letterhead to "My dear Mrs. Kilburn", in full: "Thank you very much for the beautiful roses which arrived here in perfect condition. There was no necessity whatever for any apology. I need rest and tonics that is quite all. Will you please let me know what the request is, or was, to which you refer? And you may be sure I shall be most happy to grant it if it is within my power. With renewed thanks please believe me to be, my dear Mrs. Kilburn, very faithfully yours". English actor and theatrical manager Richard Mansfield (1857-1907) began his stage career with the D'oyly Carte Company, performing all the lead patter songs of Gilbert & Sullivan. He moved from light opera to Shakespeare, particularly an acclaimed performance as Richard III. (The New York Times said he had "no living equal" as an interpreter of Shakespeare.) He was the first to portray Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde on the stage, one year after Robert Louis Stevenson's book was published. Mansfield's performances in this role were so realistic that he was accused of being Jack the Ripper, since no one else - some audience members reasoned - could have portrayed a monstrous killer so convincingly. (To defuse the criticism he gave charity performances - wisely choosing to perform comedies.) Mansfield was the first to perform a play by George Bernard Shaw in America (Arms and the Man, 1894). Normal mailing fold. Lightly toned. Left edge lightly worn. Small paper strip affixed at bottom edge. Otherwise, fine condition.