1887 Photogravure William Evans Burton Actor Bottom Midsummer Night's Dream SAS1

This is an original 1887 photogravure of a painting of English actor, William Evans Burton (1804-1860) as Bottom, the Weaver in William Shakespeare's play A Midsummer Night's Dream, Act III, Scene I. Attached is a brief descriptive note about the actor and the scene --please see both images.

Period Paper is pleased to offer an exceptional collection of hand-pulled, museum quality photogravures of English and American actors of the stage from the time of Shakespeare through the 19th century. This group of original, museum-quality photogravures, produced by Gebbie & Husson Co., Ltd., are among the finest available in the world. Their condition is unsurpassed. The artistry in the creation of these photogravures has produced the most clear, detailed, and broad tonal ranges that we have ever seen. The intaglio process used for this collection is far superior to the more mechanical photogravures and rotogravures that we often see. We have inspected these under 10x magnification --the detail is exceptional and the stock, flawless (with noted condition exceptions). The plate impressions are deep and very visible to the naked eye but do not show up well on the digital image. Each photogravure includes a separate page of descriptive text, with halftone images, about the play and/or the actor. This collection will be of interest to collectors of theatrical memorabilia and students of theatre history.

CONDITION

This 124+ year old Item is rated Near Mint / Very Fine. No creases. No natural defects. No surface rub. No tears. No water damage. There are two light foxing marks in the outer margins --please see image.

• Product Type: Original Photogravure; Black / White
• Grade: Near Mint / Very Fine
• Dimensions: Approximately 10.5 x 16 inches; 27 x 41 cm
• Authentication: Serial-Numbered Certificate of Authenticity w/ Full Provenance
• Protection: Packaged in a custom archival sleeve with an acid-free black board (great for display, gift-giving, and preservation)

SAS1C87