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Author: Wall, Bernhardt
Title: Celebrities Sketched From Life - an album of 20 original sketches by Bernhardt Wall
Place Published: No place
Publisher:
Date Published: 1900s-1920s
Description:

18 original pencil sketches, one color pastel sketch, one original watercolor sketch. Various sizes, mounted to large leaves. (Folio) 36.5x28 cm (14½x11"), cloth-backed board binding by Wall with manuscript label on front. Unique.

A superb album of original sketches by Bernhardt Wall for his etchings, includes Marshal Joffre, Woodrow Wilson, Theodore Roosevelt, Mark Twain, William Jennings Bryan, Seth Low, H.W. Ranger, Charles S. Whitman, David Bennett Hill, Col. Ardolph L. Kline, Samuel Gompers, Ilya Tolstoi, F. Hopkinson Smith, J.J. Pastoriza, Josephus Daniels, Fannie Brice, W.R. Nelson, Frank Bacon, George R. Boynton, and Rigo Jansci, Many of these sketches served as the basis for etched prints by Wall. Each illustration is titled on the mount in Wall's hand and most have brief explanatory notes as to date and place of sketching, some with further details. The sketch of Mark Twain for example, was sketched at the Majestic Theatre in New York City, March 4, 1906 and Wall notes "Made my etching from this." The sketch of Fanny Brice is a color pastel, done in her apartment in 1918, and Wall notes "Met Nicky Arnstein who treated me to the two finest Scotch highballs I ever had in my life. B.W." The sketch of George R. Boynton is a watercolor portrait, "done near Bennington, VT. 1914." Inserted at the rear is an original etching by Wall of actress Billie Burke. A previous owner's note on the rear endpaper states that this volume was purchased from Mrs. Wall in Pasadena in 1955. It has remained in that purchaser's family until consigned with our galleries.

The author's manuscript notes on the mounts transcribed below:

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  Marshal Joffre. "Joffre at Columbia University, 1917." "Mayor Mitchell and Viviani in car also. Made my etching from this. Edition exhausted.",


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  Woodrow Wilson. "Woodrow Wilson. Governor N.J. Summer 1912 Addressing Spanish War Veterans at National Encampment, Atlantic City." "He said he never had been a soldier, but could assure us he was a fighter any how - in the cause of righteousness. This was the prime inspiration for the plate "Commander in Chief" made on our entry into the war - to which he took exception - on account of its military uniform. I supprest the plate, after making twenty prints."


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  Theodore Roosevelt. "Roosevelt at Rough Riders' Luncheon. San Diego, Cal. Exposition Grounds, July 1915." "No speeches. The Colonel was very quiet and thoughtful thru all the repost. Made my etching from studies here."


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  Mark Twain. "Mark Twain. Mar. 4, 1906. Majestic Theatre, now Park Theatre, Columbus Circle. N.Y.C." "Under auspices W.S. Y.M.C.A. Made my etching from this."


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  William Jennings Bryan. "William J. Bryan in Buffalo, N.Y. 1900."


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  Seth Low. "Seth Low, Mayor, New York"


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  H.W. Ranger. "At H.W. Ranger's Noank, CT. July 10, 1915." "Mr. Ranger at piano - Edmund Severn, violinist - Mrs Severn at organ."


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  Charles S. Whitman. "Charles S. Whitman. Hotel Manhattan. Oct. 31, 1916. N.Y.C." "Committee from Moving Picture Censors, spoke on censorship. Whitman was then Governor."


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  David Bennett Hill. "David Bennett Hill. Governor - Senator. In Buffalo. Nov. 3, 1900."


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  Col. Ardolph L. Kline. "Col. Ardolph L. Kline. Done in Tax Com's'rs Office. 1915 - N.Y.C. Mayor, N.Y.C." "Col. Kline commanded the 14th Regt. of Bklyn. Served with it in the Spanish War; Commandant of the Old Guard. Mayor of New York City; Dept. Commander U.S.W.V."


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  Samuel Gompers. "Samuel Gompers. Labor leader. Feb. 22, 1918. At Lex. Op. House." "Labor Alliance Josephus Daniels also spoke."


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  Ilya Tolstoi. "Tolstoi. Son of Leo. Done at Mischa Appel Baun's Humanitarian Club. N.Y.C." "To prove that a minority was ruling Russia, he cited her past antipathy, to the Jews; by force of arms this minority for long the persecuted, was running Russia!"


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  F. Hopkinson Smith. "F. Hopkinson Smith. At Maxine Elliot Theatre. May 27, 1912. N.Y.C." "Engineer, artist, author. In 1889 I termed him the Modern American Leonardo di Vinci - and later others gave him the same title."


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  J.J. Pastoriza. "J.J. Pastoriza. At Marble Hill Studio. 1910 - N.Y.C." "Friend of Fels Soap manufacturer and a single taxer. In stationery business. Latterly Mayor of Houston, Texas under a commission government."


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  Josephus Daniels. "Josephus Daniels. Secy. of the Navy. At Lex. Opera Ho. Feb. 22, 1918, N.Y.C." "Spoke with Gompers on Labor Alliance."


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  Fannie Brice. "Fannie Brice (Arnstein) Comedienne. Done in her apartment, 72nd and Amst. Av. N.Y.C. 1918." "Her Companion - Dolores - died in London. Met Nicky Arnstein who treated me to the two finest Scotch highballs I ever had in my life."


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  W.R. Nelson. "W.R. Nelson. Editor Kansas City Star. In Roosevelt's office, Outlook. Nov. 16, 1910." "I was the third person to see the Colonel on his return to the city after the defeat of Stinson for Governor. I went to see him about Capt. Pendleton, imprisoned in Manila. It was the first intimation I had of his falling-out with Pres. Taft."


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  Frank Bacon. "Frank Bacon. In "Lightnin'" done in his dressing room. 1918/9


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  George R. Boynton. "George R. Boynton. Portrait Painter. Done near Bennington, VT. 1914."


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  Rigo Jansci. "Rigo. Hungarian violinist. Husband of Princess Chimay. Done at Little Hungary Cafe. East House St. N.Y.C."

Boards worn, contents largely disbound; very good.