VALENTINO RUDOLPH: (1895-1926) Italian actor, a sex symbol of the 1920s. An excellent, large vintage signed 13.5 x 16.5 sepia photograph, the image depicting The Latin Lover in a half-length pose in costume as Louis Philippe d'Orleans, Duc de Chartres, from the American silent romantic historical drama film Monsieur Beaucaire (1924). Signed by Valentino in bold black fountain pen ink to a clear area of the image, with an affectionate inscription in French and signing with his character name, 'A la charmante et sedeusante Audrey, Je vous baise……la main, Louis Philippe d'Orleans'. (Translation - 'To the charming and seductive Audrey, I kiss you……on the hand, Louis Philippe d'Orleans'). Signed photographs of Valentino (especially of this size and quality) are rare as a result of his untimely death at the age of 31 and this example is particularly unusually signed. Some very light, extremely minor age wear to the borders and a couple of small, minor corner creases, otherwise VG Provenance: Valentino inscribed the present photograph for Audrey Evelyn James Coats (later Pleydell-Bouverie) (1902-1968) English socialite who was photographed by Cecil Beaton for The Book of Beauty. Through her mother she was the illegitimate granddaughter of King Edward VII and herself was the illegitimate daughter of Sir Edward Grey, 1st Viscount Grey of Fallodon.