Boris Karloff Signed Sir C. Aubrey Smith Sketch and Hollywood Cricket Club Archive....

Description

Boris Karloff Signed Sir C. Aubrey Smith Sketch and Hollywood Cricket Club Archive. One of Karloff's true passions was the sport of cricket. These snapshots and stills from his days in the Hollywood Cricket Club are among the very few personal pictures he saved from the exciting era of the early and mid-1930s. This expansive lot includes a striking 8" x 10" portrait of Karloff in his cricket jacket, holding a cricket paddle and smoking a pipe; a shot of him with Sir C. Aubrey Smith and Teammates; a wonderful original portrait of Boris in full cricket uniform and cap, signed and humorously inscribed to him by a crony named "Ted"; five snapshots of Boris in cricket clothes; a 2" x 3" original shot of Boris in a cricket sweater and slacks, with "KARLOFF in Universal Pictures" stamped on the reverse, and an inscription en verso by wife Evelyn: "Boris in complete cricket regalia"; and a negative of Boris with his teammates. Also included is a 4.5" x 7.5" sketch of stalwart British actor/team captain Sir C. Aubrey Smith, signed "To Boris - bless you, Aubrey." Karloff signed his own name in full en verso in pencil. Extras: an 8" x 10" still of Boris and wife Evelyn at home, circa late 1950s, with this sketch of Smith visible and framed on the wall; a shot of Smith with cricket bat; and a shot of Smith posing at his gate in his cricket jacket (what else?). The pictures, most of them approximately 75 years old, are in Fine to Very Good condition. Superb evidence of Golden Age Karloff at play. From the Boris Karloff Estate Collection. Accompanied by a letter of provenance from Sara Karloff Sparkman. Accompanied by James Spence Authentication auction LOA.


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