Glass Slides: Set of 8 dance slides with Verna (Mlle) Mersereau (1917)

Description

There comes a time when everything must end.  I have lovingly and selectively assembled a collection of early movie glass "coming attraction" slides. Some were bought due to the celebrity. Some were bought for the movie's title and place in film history. Some were bought for the artwork of the graphic. Bottom line, each slide was handpicked and chosen over a run of twenty years. Now is the time for these rare pieces of film memorabilia to grace a new home.  It is not often that a collection of this calibre is put up for sale. Know that there are more slides coming in the next weeks. Opening prices are based on what I paid for the slides over the years.
Back in the day of vaudeville's live stage productions, space was eventually cleared for  movies. A good time filler and cheaper than the ever-changing line of live performances. These short movies were the eventual demise of live stage production. Pretty much the end of Vaudeville. But the theatres continued with some live stage presentations. These were reserved for acts that were more special, more theatrical. The theatres already had the slide projectors and screens for the upcoming movies, so “Coming Attraction" slides for certain of these acts certainly made sense.
Here is a set of eight really nice slides from what I can only figure out was a vaudevillian stage production. The performer is Verna Mersereau. She most often billed herself as Mlle. Mersereau. She also billed herself as America's Most Perfect Young Woman. (Yah, Right!) In any case she was primarily a dancer, a dramatic dancer. She did dip her dancing toes into silent film but her filmography only lists five credits. I am sure she was dancing in most of them. "Romance of Old Egypt" was not one of the film titles leading me to believe that this was a live production during a vaudeville show.
Verna was born in 1895 but was felled by tuberculosis at the age of 40. Just another unknown, or rather forgotten, talent from the years of long ago.
This is a series of eight slides from 1917. The production was titled "A Romance of Old Egypt". The slides that accompanied this production were (and still are) beautiful. The pastel colors of the flowing costumes are really something to see.  I bought these eight sides individually but still as a set years ago. I do not have the heart to break up this set. They were created together and for whatever it's worth, they need to stay together. I don't have the right to split them apart. It is the only thing that still brings credibility to Mlle. Verna Mersereau. This is a rare find and will never be seen again. Have something exclusive!
As to the eight slides themselves, when I pulled them from the drawer, I saw that half of them had been cracked and restored. The repair work is so good that you can only see the repair when you hold the actual slide on an angle in your hand. Project any light from behind and the crack disappears. That is an optical property of glass. Here, that is a good thing!  The main glass image of the set, with the words “Reputed America’s Most Perfect Young Woman’’ (again, Yah Right!) is perfect. That slide is the best one of the lot and has no issues and just the best coloring. Beautiful pastel tones!
So, the first four slides listed are clean, no cracks. The last four are the repaired slides. Look at the pictures of those last ones, they were back lit
when scanned. You can see what I am saying of how you can’t see any cracks or repairs. Even of those  repaired ones, with the front cover glass taped on at the edges, they are as strong as they ever were.
This is a rare and totally unique
collection. Have something that no-one has or can have.
I am going to list the set of eight slides for pretty much what I paid for them years ago.
The last piece of information concerns shipping. I am an American but living here in Australia. The bulk of this collection travelled here to Australia with us on the move eleven or so years ago. That is where
the slides will be shipped from.
The base weight for shipping a package to the United States is 500 grams, just over a pound.
The charge for that is (U.S.).
Now for 500 grams I can certainly combine multiple slides. Depending on
the slides being the double glass version (mid 1924
and earlier) or the cardboard framed variety will dictate
the weight and how many I can send at one shipping. At least 5 or 6 slides can be shipped together for the same price. I just have to check the final weight of the box and keep it at 500 grams or less. So the short
answer on shipping is; buy multiples and I will always do my best to COMBINE SHIPPING.
Now with this set of eight slides, weighing them almost comes to 500 grams on their own. They will
definitely
go over the minimum weight of 500 grams. To cover the additional weight, figure that the shipping would be 30 US dollars, rather than 20. If it is more than that, I will cover the difference.
It is best to use PayPal for paying. Safer for you and for me. As soon as funds clear, the package will be sent out. Be aware that
due to this Covid 19 mess still affecting mailings, shipping could take 4 to 5 weeks. Usually
it is quicker but it can take that long.
Bottom line, both the U.S and Australia have Post Offices that work. We have never lost a package traveling in either direction.
Good Luck!