Scrapbook, 1885-1892, compiled by the amateur actor Augustus Spalding, a close friend and supporter of the opera singer Adelina Patti, containing press cuttings, photographs, printed items, letters and ephemera.
The volume contains material relating to Patti's wedding to Ernesto Nicolini (ff. 11 verso-12 verso, 12c, 13), various charity concerts in Swansea and Brecon (ff. 17-20, 30-31 verso, 41a-b, 42-43, 81-84 verso), her tour of South America in 1888 (in particular Buenos Aires and Montevideo) (ff. 32 verso-36, 39 verso-41 verso), engravings of Craig-y-Nos Castle (ff. 43 verso-45), her birthday party, 19 February 1889 (ff. 50 verso-51), performances at the Patti Theatre, Craig-y-Nos (ff. 62 verso, 67, 78-80 verso, 85), and the Grand Autumn Concert Tour of 1890 (f. 63 recto-verso), all being events in which Spalding participated. The majority of the material however relates to Spalding's acting activities as a member of the Old Stagers during the annual Canterbury Cricket Week, and with the Windsor Strollers.