THEATRICAL BIOGRAPHIES [Spine Title; Fan Scrapbook of Late 19th Century Actors and Athletes]

[New York]: n.p., 1890. Near fine.. A carefully assembled and impressively detailed set of photos and bios of contemporary American and British actors, singers, and athletes, about 42 of whom are men, and 23 women. A few of their names include: Mittens Willett, Katie Putnam, Mollie Thompson, Maude Wilson, Hattie Delaro, Captain Jack Crawford, De Wolf Hopper, Frederick Barham Warde, William P. Davidge, Frank Daniels, and Matthew Kilroy. The theatre performers worked in a variety of styles, including vaudeville, opera, and burlesque. Toward the end of the book, the focus shifts to athletes, all of whom are men: many baseball players in the National League, as well as runners, rowers, and a bicyclist. The scrapbook's biographies are quite detailed, some spanning as long as six pages, with information presumably gathered from newspapers; likely also the source of the stars' portraits. An absorbing record compiled by an engaged fan during the embryonic stages of celebrity-focused media in the US. Hardcover. Oblong 24mo. black cloth scrapbook with compiler's intials printed in gilt on cover. Contains [~171] leaves with pasted cut-outs of photos and illustrated portraits of stars, about 65 in total, with orginal typewritten (in blue ribbon, but top copy) biographical information for each. About near fine overall. Light soil to rear board. First leaf detached, but otherwise sound throughout, and clean, with just a bit of wrinkling near glued portraits.