The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-06-26
OLD PLAYBTLLs At AUCTION.
Low Prices Obtained for the Collection Gath
cred Together by James ~. Brown.

Low Prices Obtained for the Collection Gath
cred Together by james H.. BrOwn.
Prices at the recent sale OF tho collection of
theatrical pinybills and similar objects owned
by James II. Brown indicate that the present
demand for these objects is slight. One feature
of such sales which tends to keep prices down,
and is always unsatisfactory to the collector. is
the fact that it is rarely possible to buy any one
object separately. Photographs are not, as a
rule, sold singly. and the good must be taken
along with the bad. So to get the really valua-
BILE programme or picture it Is frequently neces.
sary to buy a number.
One OF the largest sums Nj for one lot at this
sale was $25, which went for a collection of
playbills, thirty four in number, relating to
Joseph Grimaldi. In addition to this there was
Dickens's Memoirs of Grimaldi, illustrated by
Cruikshank. Another collection of objects re-
lating to the same subject brought only $40.
Ono lot that would have appealed irresistibly to
collectors who make n specially of matters
dealing with Hamlet" was n collection of pro-
granme OF The tragedy extending from l777
to 1893. A collection of 40 programmes of
plays taken from Dickens's novels sold for So.
and l3l ~playbills of performances given by
Edwin Forrest brought only 1925. A scrap
book of ~playbills and other data con-
corning Ellen Terry and Henry Irving.
On INC oIueT manu-, Drought Flo'ou, NHlcn
might be taken to indicate that there is more
curiosity about living actors than about dead
ones, or at least that there are more collectors
enga ged with the accumulation of souvenirs
relating to them. Two hundred and sixty play
bills that included one of his first appearance
and covered many years of Edwin Booths career
sold for only 50, although at least one of these
is practically impossible to duplicate. 4 Charles
kcan collection OF memorabilia went for $3.50,
foT o nnG'G $g.5 5sieF GmIy e e. &c g ew wns pa nSFf fr s ppo!
Rrnmmes and other "reminiscences OF Charlotte
CushmOn. For 1870 of John McCullough's pro-
Rrammes $3.50 WAS paid.
More interesting to Bostonians were two lots
that excited more bidding than any other objects
OF the Boston Theatre from the first perform
aLnce, on Sept. IL, 1894 until May %, 1921.
collection. Which was bound in Ihirty.seven vol.
the Boston Public Library bid for it. Tho library
ultimately got the collection for $ls5. Even
from the Boston Museum, q theatre with much
were 6.oOo programmes, in twenty-five vol
umes. running from 1913 to 1879. These sold,
than 1000 bills. in twenty-three volumes.
brought only $500.
Among the pictures, sold were q water color
portrait Of Jnnius. Brutus Booth for 80, a
photograph with the name of John Wilkes
Booth brought only 1918. a water color OF the
old RArnum's Museum went for $3.50. and for n
playful OF u Garrick performance Mt the Drury
Lane Theatre dated May 7. 1880. only $3.50
The sale of these programmes has awakened
interest in the forged programmes of Ford's
Theatre OF the night of the assassination OF
President Lincoln. These are frequently sold in
the street, and are reproductions which might
deceive anybody hut an expert. Experienced
booksellers have been deceived by them. They
have been sold for one cent. Theatrical col.
lectors have talked OF another programme used
on that night, and although this contention was
vague. 1t has always survived, j. Is. Clapp, tho
Boston critic, set himself to clearing mp, the
matter, and his Investigations showed that there
were two programmes published for that night,
one from which the forged bill was copied ana
another distributed later in the evening. On
the morning of the fateful day OF the assassina-
ton the stage manager OF Ford's Theatre. John
i. Wright, ordered the printer to insert in the
programme the words OF a patriotic song,
Honor to Our Soldiers Tho printing Of the
programme was Immediately interrupted and
work OF adding the song begun, Before this
new order was received II certain number OF
tho programmes had been printed. Both sots
of programmes were sent TO the theatre tina
night, and both the programmes with the song
and those without IT are genuine. The spurious
bill does not contain the, words of the song.
That fact gives additional value TO those pro
gremmes on which the words are printed, They,
~ leSbt, are not reprints OF the forged bill.