Scrapbook of newspaper clippings, original photographs, telegrams, and theatre programs.
Bernhardt, Sarah. Scrapbook. 1910.
4to.; 84 pages; flexible morocco.
A scrapbook including newspaper clippings, photographs, telegrams and theatre programmes,
documenting a gala performance, held to honor Sarah Bernhardt, of the one-act play “The Accolade” by
Mrs. Montague Fowler (“Gaston Gervex”), before an audience of society and theatrical notables
including Sir Herbert Tree, Mrs. Patrick Campbell and Ellen Terry at the Holborn Restaurant on 7
October 1910.
The President of the Reception Committee, and very much the moving spirit behind the gala, was the
Countess of Warwick, the society beauty and socialist who was implicated in a number of late Victorian
scandals including the Tranby Croft affair and who deposed Lillie Langry as the Prince of Wales's
mistress. Her promotion of socialism and her charity work saw her run through the vast fortune which
she had inherited in 1865.
The gala for Sarah Bernhardt was typical of her sudden seizing on a cause. Clearly compiled by someone
closely involved from the conception of the gala, the scrapbook contains some 32 telegrams between the
Countess of Warwick, Mrs. Montague Fowler, Bernhardt and other notables such as Ellen Terry.
Also present are 10 original press photographs showing the play and the evening reception with some
particularly fine images of Bernhardt, Lady Warwick, Fowler and Terry.
Also present are an invitation and the programme for the evening (among the actors of the play were
H.A. Saintsbury - also the producer - and Mary Forbes) as well as a substantial number of press clippings
reporting on the gala.
(#4656507)
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