DUSE ELEONORA: (1858-1924) Lot n° 4

DUSE ELEONORA: (1858-1924) Italian stage actress. D.S., E Duse, two pages, slim 4to, n.p. (Marseille?), n.d. (c. December 1903), in French. The manuscript document is a contract between Duse and Monsieur Simon of the Theatre des Varietes in Marseille in which the actress agrees to appear in two Italian performances with her company, on Tuesday 5th January and Thursday 7th January 1904, outlining that Duse will receive 70% of the revenue generated by ticket receipts and that Simon will receive 30% from which he shall pay various expenses, including the cost of stagehands, an orchestra featuring a string quartet and one or two pianos if necessary, advertising posters (from two weeks before the performances) etc., but not to include the cost of travel and hotel accommodation for Duse and her company, and also stipulating that the same seats within the theatre (including balcony seats) that were reserved for her previous performance on 28th March 1898 will again be reserved for Duse's guests. With two circular French revenue stamps (one blind embossed) in the left margin. VG MELIES GEORGES: (1861-1938) French Film Director, a Pioneer of cinema and innovator in the use of special effects. Rare D.S., G. Melies, one page, 4to, Paris, 12th November 1912, the partially printed document being a receipt issued on Melies' attractive printed stationery. The manuscript receipt, in French, is for the sum of 370 Francs, being the payment of royalties due from the sales, in New York, of some of Melies' films. Also bearing to the front a red ink stamp of the Melies cinema manufacture over a tax stamp. Three binding holes to the left border, not affecting the text or signature. VG