Othello (poster)

A very early example of pictorial poster, although not a lithograph, dating from 1852. The Britannia was a famous East End working-class theatre with an identity and an audience of its very own. Aldridge, one of the only black stars of the 19th century stage was actually born in New York. Othello was his best known role, and he toured it all over America and Europe. This poster dates from his farewell season at the Britannia where he also played in The Padlock, The Slave, Bertram, and Titus Andronicus just before Aldridge went on his first Continental tour.