Brother of John Wilkes Booth, actor. ALS, three pages on two lightly lined sheets, 5 x 8, April 3, no year, but likely circa late1860s, as affixed silk is from Booth’s Theatre. In part: “Dear Dick, Enclosed is check for $5000. Health good. Weather good. Think I will be able to get first…I want. It will be extra expensive at the start - for effect. But after the first season we can cut corners [?]…Bully! If not - Bully too…Write soon and often…” He adds the postscript: “You are right about [?] and [?] too, but I think it would be…Will write again.” A 2.5 x 1.5 piece of bright blue silk is affixed to the second page, with the notation in another hand that it is from Booth’s Theater. In very good condition, with scattered toning and trivial soiling, particularly to the first page, square of adhesive residue. One of the first great American actors. After years of touring with his father, Junius Brutus Booth, he appeared in New York City (1857) and later toured (1861–63) England. On returning to New York he leased the Winter Garden Theatre, where in 1864 he presented his famous 100-night run of Hamlet (a record unbroken until John Barrymore's 101-night run in 1922). His productions at the Winter Garden terminated in 1865, when his brother John Wilkes Booth assassinated President Lincoln. The ensuing scandal forced Edwin Booth to retire, but he returned to the Winter Garden in 1866. When it burned down, he built Booth's Theatre, New York (1869). He again toured (1880–82) England; his last appearance was in 1891. R&R COA.
