RARE 1904 ACTRESS POSTCARD : MISS GEORGIE WELLS : MURRAY HILL THEATER : NEW YORK For Sale

This rare 1904 real photo postcard features actress Miss Georgie Wells, an obscure performer who was likely a member of the Henry V. Donnelly Stock Company, which performed at the Murray Hill Theater in New York City. While little information can be found about Wells, she was notable enough to be featured on this postcard but did not reach the prominence of a leading lady. The only known reference to her found in my search, is in an issue of The Cast (1900), listing her as part of the Donnelly troupe, which staged multiple productions at the Murray Hill Theater (Lexington Avenue & 42nd Street). The theater had a seating capacity of 1,500 and was known for staging legitimate plays and operas before transitioning to vaudeville and burlesque in 1904. The photograph capturesGeorgie Wells in an elegant, soft-focus portrait, framed by her voluminous, wavy hair. Her expression is demure and wistful, with large, expressive eyes gazing slightly away from the camera, lending her an ethereal presence. She wears a sheer, flowing garment, possibly made of tulle or gauzy fabric, draped around her shoulders, evoking a romantic, almost dreamlike quality. Beneath the portrait, the printed inscription reads \"MISS GEORGIE WELLS.\" Handwritten in ink below the name is the phrase:\"Note the Prefix\".This likely refers to the \"Miss\" preceding her name, a convention that often denoted unmarried actresses in the Edwardian era. This handwritten annotation, dated \"1st Aug 04\", adds an interesting personal touch, possibly from someone commenting on the way she was titled. The reverse side of the postcard includes a handwritten message, penned in ink, addressed to Miss Florie Burch of Orpington, Kent (UK). The message reads:\"Just a card to thank you for your advice. Hope you haven’t one of these. The Mrs. says your pet bat is ready for transport.\"The cryptic note about the \"pet bat\" adds an intriguing mystery to the card, suggesting an inside joke or shared reference between the sender and recipient. The postmark is dated August 1, 1904, from Tonbridge, Kent, and the postcard bears a half-penny green King Edward VII stamp.This postcard has minor corner wear and is in Very Good Condition (see scans).

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