The Who Gallery

Autograph: James Graham, Marquis of Montrose, 1644

Autograph: Letter from James Graham, Marquis of Montrose to Ferdinando, Lord Fairfax in answer to his objection to exchange an unnamed prisoner of the rank of a Colonel for Mr Darly, 22 July 1644. Written shortly after the battle of Marston Moor (2 July) and the surrender of York (16 July) of which Fairfax was now governor. Montrose held the appointment of Lieutenant-General in Scotland, but was within the English borders. The exchange in question was between Henry Darley, MP for Northallerton and Commissioner to the Scottish General Assembly, and Colonel John Bellasis, created Lord Belasyse in 1645, who had lately been defeated and captured at Selby by Sir Thomas Fairfax (see Napiers, Memoirs of Montrose, 1856, vol. Ii p.404). Signature: James Graham, Marquis of Montrose. Scottish nobleman and soldier, 1612 ? 21 May 1650. Source: British Museum

© Lebrecht

The Folly Theatre, Peter Street, Manchester

Promotional postcard showing a playbill of the acts playing at the Folly Theatre of Varieties, (known as the Folly) Peter Street, Manchester for the week commencing Monday, 24th March 1889. This particular bill, starred Marie Loftus (1857-1940) who was one of the great female stars of the British music hall. Known as "The Sarah Bernhardt of the Music Halls", she rose to become a leading national star, touring abroad to the USA and South Africa. The Music Hall and Theatre Review of Saturday, 30th May 1891 stated that "Tom Costello is still here", suggesting he was a regular and popular performer at The Folly. Date: circa 1889

© The Michael Diamond Collection / Mary Evans Picture Library

Edouin, Willie in The Girl from Kay's

Promotional flyer for The Girl from Kay's Promotional postcard for The Girl from Kays by Owen Hall; music Ivan Caryll and Cecil Cook. First produced at the Apollo Theatre, London 15th November 1902. The original London production, from 1902 to 1903, played for a long run of 432 performances and was followed by provincial tours. A successful New York run of 223 performances began in 1903, and successful Australian runs followed. The plot is triggered when a wife sees her husband kissing a shop girl who has delivered her new hat from Kay's hat shop. This is a postcard in a series depicting stage personalities, Willie Edouin is shown as the American millionaire, the part he created in this show - caption: Im Hoggenheimer. As so often in productions of the period, the American millionaire is a comic character, but in this case the audience is asked to laugh with rather than at him. Date: 1904

© The Michael Diamond Collection / Mary Evans Picture Library