American Historical Ephemera & Photography

Large collection comprised primarily of photographs of Richard Cromwell, some autographed, including formal portraits, film stills, and personal images collected by Paul Palmer, a Hollywood enthusiast who had a special interest in Cromwell's life and career. Correspondence within the lot indicates that Palmer hoped to collect as many photographs and items related to Cromwell as possible, in order to build an archive that could later be donated to an institution. Highlights include:

At least 8 photographs signed by Richard Cromwell, 4 of which are inscribed to Paul Palmer. -- Approx. 175 photographs of Richard Cromwell, ranging from formal portraits to candid shots, several taken off set, to stills from many of his films, including Above the Clouds, Age of Consent, Annapolis Farewell, Among the Missing, Carolina, Crime Smasher, Emma, Hoopla, Lives of a Bengal Lancer, Life Begins at 40, McFadden's Flats, Maker of Men, Men of the Hour, Most Precious Thing in Life, Name the Woman, Outward Bound, Poppy, The Road Back, Storm Over Bengal, The Strange Love of Molly Louvain, That's My Boy, This Day and Age, Tol'Able David, Tom Brown of Culver, Torpedoed!, Unknown Woman, Village Barn Dance, and Young Abe Lincoln. The majority of the photographs measure 8 x 10 in. or smaller.

[With:] 1936 US Passport identified to "Roy Radabauh / Known as Richard Cromwell" with accompanying letter addressed to Paul Palmer from a relative in Los Angeles who said he found the passport while going through some belongings. -- Copies of 7 photographs of Richard Cromwell and his family compiled, described, and sent to Paul Palmer by the same relative. -- Richard Cromwell ANS, no date, addressed to Rosie. -- Playbill from the Forty-Sixth Street Theatre for So Proudly We Hail, 22 September 1936, in which Cromwell played Jim Thornton. -- Promotional booklet for The Lives of a Bengal Lancer.

[Also with:] Receipts and correspondence between Paul Palmer and book and memorabilia retailers involving the purchase of film stills, lobby cards, and other memorabilia.

Together, more than 185 items, most in good to near excellent condition.

Born in Long Beach, California, as LeRoy Melvin Radabaugh, Richard Cromwell was also known as Roy Radabaugh. Cromwell was best known for his work in Jezebel (1935) starring alongside Bette Davis and Henry Fonda, and in The Lives of a Bengal Lancer (1935), which also featured Gary Cooper and Franchot Tone.