Photograph album IV, undated

ALBUM (IV). OWNED BY MARION LEA MITCHELL. The following 43 photographs consist mostly of images of Philadelphia-born actress, Marion Lea, later wife of Langdon Elwyn Mitchell. Most of the photographs predate her marriage. A number are signed and/or inscribed by her, and it is very likely that she owned and compiled it. It is bound in the original late 19th century red leather over beveled boards measuring 8.5 x 6” with functional metal clasp. (Some rubbing to binding, cracks to a few leaves as a result of rough removal of photographs from mounts, still very good and sound). All photographs are in very good or better condition, except when otherwise indicated below. The individual photographs are as follows:

[Page 1]. [MITCHELL, Marion Lea]. CABINET CARD. 1891. Back-mark: London Stereoscopic Co., 54 Cheapside and 106 & 108 Regent St. Base of card trimmed with loss of front-mark, else near fine. Three-quarters length portrait of Marion Lea in the role of Thea Elvsted, from Ibsen’s Hedda Gabler, seated, in a long white dress. Her role and the date of the photograph are identified by an early inscription on the verso.

[Page 2]. [MITCHELL, Marion Lea and unidentified actor]. CABINET CARD. 1891. Light marginal foxing; very good. Marion Lea is again depicted in the role of Thea Elvsted, full-length, standing, in profile, alongside an actor. She is here depicted in a black dress. The role and date of the photograph are again derived from an early inscription on the verso.

[Page 3]. [MITCHELL, Marion Lea]. CABINET CARD. Circa 1880’s. Back-mark: London Stereoscopic Co., 54 Cheapside [remainder of address covered by contemporary news clipping]. Base of card trimmed with loss of front-mark. Lightly foxed; good plus. Full-length portrait of Marion Lea in the role of Smike (from Nicholas Nickleby), seated on stairs. Her role is identified by the aforementioned news clipping.

[Page 4]. [MITCHELL, Marion Lea]. CABINET CARD. 1891. Light foxing; good plus. Depicts Lea in the role of Thea Elvsted, full-length, in profile, standing with another actress. The role and date of the photograph are derived from an early inscription on the verso.

[Page 5]. [MITCHELL, Marion Lea]. CABINET CARD. Matte photograph. 1882. Back-mark: Fred. Hollyer, 9 Pembroke Sq., Kensington, [London]. Base of card trimmed with some loss to back-mark, else very good plus. Date from early inscription on verso.

[Page 6]. [MITCHELL, Marion Lea]. CABINET CARD. Circa 1888. Frontmark and back-mark: W & D. Downey, 57 & 61 Ebury St., London. Later hand stamp on verso: Charles L. Ritzmann, Importer, 943 Broadway and 171 ½ Fifth Ave., New York. Three-quarters length portrait of Lea in theatrical dress, leaning on a pillar. Early inscription on verso reads: “Small part in a play in which Wilson Barrett starred. London, 1888?”

[Page 7]. [MITCHELL, Marion Lea, C.L., and N.C.R.]. ORIGINAL TINTYPE PHOTOGRAPH. [1881]. Photograph measuring 4 x 2.25”. Hand-tinted (adding color to cheeks). Some very faint scuffs, still very good or better. Depicts Marion Lea in a half-bust portrait together with two other women. They are identified with the initials, C.L. and N.C.R., in an inscription in the album.

[Page 8]. [MITCHELL, Marion Lea]. CABINET CARD[?] trimmed to CDV size. Hand-tinted (adding color to cheeks and red-cross armband). Very good. Depicts Marion Lea in the role of the nurse, Merry Merrick, from Wilkie Collins’s New Magdalen. She is here portrayed standing, three quarters length with stage props.

[MITCHELL, Marion Lea and N.C.R.]. ORIGINAL TINTYPE PHOTOGRAPH. Photograph measuring 3.75 x 2.5”. Hand-tinted (adding color to cheeks). Very good. Full-length portrait of Marion Lea, seated, together with a woman identified by an inscription in the album as “N.C.R.”

[Page 9]. [MITCHELL, Marion Lea]. CABINET CARD. 1891. Small corner chip and stain to card, not affecting photograph; based of card trimmed; else very good. Depicts Marion Lea in the title role of Langdon Mitchell’s play, Deborah, standing, threequarters length, in right profile. Role and date of photograph from early inscription on verso.

[Page 10]. [MITCHELL], Marion Lea. CABINET CARD SIGNED. Lea boldly signs her name at the base of the photograph. 1888. Back-mark: Vernon[?] Kaye, 4 Onslow Place, South Kensington, [London]. Very good. Depicts Marion Lea three-quarters length, in right profile, seated. Her name appears at the base of the photograph, perhaps in her own hand. Dated from early inscription on verso, reading: “The Monk’s Room, Oct. 2, 1888,” referring to the play by John Lart.

[Page 11]. [MITCHELL, Marion Lea]. CABINET CARD. 1885. Back-mark: Gillman & Co., Oxford. Base of card trimmed with loss of front-mark, else very good with some very mild foxing. Depicts Marion Lea in the role Julia, from Sheridan’s The Rivals. Role and date of photograph from early inscription at base of photograph.[No photograph inserted on p. 12].

[Page 13]. [MITCHELL, Marion Lea]. CDV SIGNED AND INSCRIBED. Inscription at base of photograph reads: “For Fickle[?] Philip, with Auntie Maydo’s love.” Frontmark: Chas. Gillman, 107 St. Aldate’s, Oxford. Back-mark of photographer’s name and city of operation. Near fine. Head-shot portrait of Lea.

[MITCHELL, Marion Lea and Mary McMurtrie]. CDV. Back-mark: Hinkle, 4673 Main Street, Philadelphia. Faint foxing and toning, still about very good. Head-shot portrait of Marion Lea and Mary McMurtrie, the latter identified based on inscription in album. See item #476 above for another example of this CDV.