AUTOGRAPH LETTER SIGNED by the Popular 19th Century American Stage Actress KITTY BLANCHARD RANKIN.

- Over 50 words penned on two 7 inch high by 4-1/2 inch wide attached leaves. The actress Kitty Blanchard writes to "Miss Thompson", sending her autograph "Preparatory leaving for Phila tearing up letters etc thought I had better send my autograph as you had requested it." She goes on to say that her husband, the actor McKee Rankin is "very busy" but will "possibly send his later." Signed "Kate Rankin ('Mrs. McKee Rankin')". There is a tiny tear to the bottom of the fold and paper remnants with glue stains to the corners of the blank verso of the second page. Very good. The popular American stage actress from Pennsylvania Elizabeth "Kitty" Blanchard (1847-1911) was also known as "Katherine Blanchard" as evidenced from the coroner's report published in the December 15, 1911 Washington Evening Star. Popular throughout the 1870's and 80's she costarred with Kate Claxton in "The Two Orphans" and was a member of the cast in the New York production of George Bermard Shaw's "Arms and the Man". Married to the actor McKee Rankin, their children went on to marry into other stage families including the Barrymores, Drews and Davenports.…