Antique Autographed Photograph Marshall P Wilder Dwarf Actor Cabinet Card Photo

This is an antique autographed and dated cabinet card photo featuring Marshall Pinckney Wilder, a famous and celebrated actor and comedian of his time. Wilder was described as a hunchback dwarf and, although an American, was a favourite of the British Royal family - the Prince of Wales, eventually to become King Edward VII, saw Wilder performances close to twenty times. Although P.T. Barnum offered side show employment to him, Wilder chose instead to perform on the legitimate stage - disabled people were generally denied access to mainstream entertainment during the 19th century but Wilder was very successful, eventually becoming a Vaudevillian. The photo was taken Benjamin J Falk, a famous celebrity portrait photographer, located in the Madison Square area of New York, which was the centre of New York theatre life. Falk is considered a pioneer, one of the first to embrace dry plates and also to transition to colour portraiture The photograph is personally signed in ink with Marshall P. Wilder 1893. The card measures 4 1/4 by 6 5/8 while the photo measures 3 7/8 by 5 3/4. It is in very good condition - a slight bit of curvature, very minor. Great addition to a collection