Toedteberg, Augustus. A.A. Addams as Hamlet

Folger bibliographic ID: 255640
Folger call number: ART Box T653 no.1
Folger holdings ID: 337253

General notes

Title from pencil note on verso of Folger copy. Full figure portrait, standing to front, looking left, cloak over left arm which is held across chest. Inlaid to larger sheet, unsigned All the works by Toedteberg that Folger owns are theatrical portraits copied after rare prints. They are either contained in volumes which were grangerized by Toedteberg or are individual items which were purchased from the sale of Toedteberg's collection. Some of the pieces are signed by him but most are unsigned. All of them, however, at one time passed through his hands and many may have been the work of his pen. They have been grouped together in this file for that reason History: After an anonymous watercolor portrait of Addams, formerly in the collection of J.H.V. Arnold and now housed in the FSL (ART Box A222 no.1, see record for Anonymous. A. Addams as Hamlet). The portrait was reproduced as a process print to illustrate Laurence Hutton's Curiosities of the American stage, 1891 (p.323). Toedteberg's wash was possibly copied after original as it reflects varnished highlights in the same places, highlights which were not transferred in the printing process. The print is noted in Harv. cat. of dram. ports. as no.2 under Addams entry Provenance: Item was purchased by the Folgers from the sale of the Toedteberg Collection, pt. 1, held Dec. 2-3, 1903, by the Anderson Auction Co., item no.223 in the catalog of the sale Subject: Hutton notes Augustus A. Addams as playing Hamlet on the New York stage November 13, 1835 (p.314). The sheet to which the item has been inlaid bears a clipping of Addam's entry from Brown's History of the American stage The art collection of the Folger Shakespeare Library includes many volumes of extra illustrated books, several of which formerly belonged to the library of the theatrical manager Augustin Daly. Many of these extra-illustrated volumes were inlaid and organized by Augustus Toedteberg, a professional inlayer and repairer of prints who resided in Brooklyn, N.Y. in the 1870's to 1890's The known facts concerning Toedteberg are few. He was the grangerizer of the Daly copy of Joseph Norton Ireland's Records of the New York stage (a work extended by him from 2 to 33 volumes) and of Daly's souvenir books of his Shakespearean productions (many of which are now in the Folger collection). Toedteberg also published a work, in 1893, entitled Portraits of actors reproduced from rare originals for Augustus Toedteberg. The Folger Library has a few letters in its ms. collection addressed from Toedteberg to Augustin Daly concerning Toedteberg's grangerizing work. His theatrical collection, which consisted of numerous books, prints, drawings, autographs and playbills, was sold at auction by the Anderson Co., New York, 1903-1904 The volumes which Toedteberg grangerized also contain a number of watercolor portraits, copied after rare prints, which are signed by a Victor Moblard who may have been under the employ of Toedteberg. Moblard's style of painting and writing is rater distinct and even where he has not signed his name it is easy to spot his work, In cases where his signature or initials appear, or where the style gives evidence of his work, the item has been entered under his name. In all cases, where known, a subject entry has been given for the original artist of the print from which Moblard was copying. No biographical information has been located on Moblard. The user is referred to records under Moblard, Victor, for additional works from the Toedteberg shop Toedteberg's collection of theatrical prints was extensive and it is assumed that he drew on this collection as a resource for his grangerizing endeavors. It appears that he was in the habit of copying, in ink or watercolor, rare prints, or having rare prints copied by others, perhaps when he was able to obtain only one copy of the original print This record contains unverified data from old cards and may contain incorrect or incomplete text. Please consult Curator for assistance Also available as a digital reproduction

Extended title: A.A. Addams as Hamlet [Augustus Toedteberg]

Addams, Augustus A., -1851 Shakespeare, William, 1564-1616. Hamlet Shakespeare, William, 1564-1616 Hamlet (Legendary character) Actors

artist: Toedteberg, Augustus, 1823 or 1824-1909
depiction: Addams, Augustus A., -1851
depiction: Shakespeare, William, 1564-1616
depiction: Hamlet (Legendary character)