WILLIE Ross (Glasgow and Alexandria)

Harry Lauder, autographed portraits, circa 1900

The Scottish ex-miner turned international comedian and music-hall star, knighted in 1919 for his outstanding contribution to the war effort

Nine gelatin silver prints, each approx. 8 x 4 inches (20.1 x 10.3 cm), some monochrome tinting and pencil retouching to provide additional detail, signed and inscribed in now-faded ink by Lauder, mounted on gilt-edged heavy card within debossed windows, overall approx 12¼ x 7¾ inches (30.7 x 19.5 cm), the photographer's gilt credit stamps on mounts 'Willie Ross 140 Douglas Street, Glasgow/ 192 Main Street Alexandria'; minor foxing to mounts rarely affecting images, some skinning to backs of mounts with traces of glue where previously attached to another surface

Harry Lauder (1870–1950) is seen here in a series of quirky costume portraits at a time when he was building the international fame that was to see him become one of the highest paid in his profession. The photographs are inscribed as follows:

'as Sweet Killiecrankie Whiskey Tooral-ooral' 'Alick my [?perfect] tomato Harry Lauder' 'Asleep or [?boaking (vomiting or retching)] Yours Sincerely Harry' 'Hoo' dae ye like the Back View Alick' 'I handed her ma Hankie Harry Lauder' 'och-exKase me Alick – ' 'Remember me & I'll remember ye [?Himsel Harry – ' 'To my old friend Alick/ Foot of the [?Hilltown]' ' ... Sincerely Harry Lauder'

The references to Alick (an abbreviation of Alexander) may be to Lauder's younger brother or possibly to Alick Ritchie, a Scots-born commercial artist who depicted Lauder in a humorous semi-abstract portrait for a cigarette card, published in 1926. http://www.earlyphotographers.org.uk/Scotland.html lists Ross at this Glasgow address in 1901 and 1902 (from trade directory sources).

£1750