Edwin Forrest (1806-1872) was the first internationally known and acclaimed American actor. Born to Scottish and German descendants, he made his stage debut in 1820. Touring at first as an actor in the West (Ohio and Kentucky), within six years he was performing in New York and building his reputation as the most powerful physical and vocal actor America had ever seen. He was popular for heroic and physical tragic roles such as Othello, King Lear, Virginius, and Metamora, and often brought audiences to their feet with his passionate, energetic, and frenetic portrayals. He reached his zenith in the late 1830s and 1840s as he toured to England and France, developing a professional rivalry with British actor William Macready, who played the same roles. Both men were known for jealousy and having virile tempers, however, and the feud became personal in the 1840s leading up to Forrest's second tour to England in 1845. Friends in the press and other supporters of both men criticized the other's performances in print, especially after Forrest publicly hissed Macready's performance of Hamlet in Edinburgh in February of that year, leading to public interest and charged opinions on both sides. Tensions eventually led to the Astor Place Riot in New York City on May 10, 1849, in which Americans rioted in the streets during a Macready performance and the militia tragically fired into the crowds. This item is a former book plate of an engraving of Forrest in the role of Coriolanus. When Forrest first tried to sell this defiant, passionate Roman to audiences in 1838, he met with disinterest. After trying the piece in New York and Philadelphia with the same lackluster results, he discarded the role despite having grown attached to the belligerent, anti-democratic, and treasonous soldier. The quote at the bottom of the plate is from Act IV, Sc. V: Prepare thy brow to frown know'st thou me yet? Production(s) represented: A New Way to Pay Old Debts. Character role(s) represented: Edwin Booth (Sir Giles Overreach), C. R. Thorne, Jr. (Wellborn), H. L. Bascomb (Allworth), Louis Aldrich (Lord Lovell), W. M. Leman (Justice Greedy), F. Hardenbergh (Marall), S. H. Forsberg (Order), F. Woodhull (Furnace), W. F. Burroughs (Amble), J. Scott (Watchall), George Allen (Paron Welldo), W. St. Maur (Tapwell), T. Bingham (Vintner), J. R. Clarke (Tailor), Mrs. Agnes Perry (Margaret Overreach), Mrs. E. F. Stewart (Lady Allworth), Mrs. E. M. Leslie (Froth) Artistic role(s) represented: Edwin Booth (Actor), Mrs. Agnes Perry-Booth (Actor), Junius Brutus Booth (Manager), Philip Massinger (Playwright).