Charming 3.5 x 5.25-inch black and white costume portrait from "A Dream of Old Japan" (1902), one of her most celebrated roles, boldly signed in black fountain pen and mailed to a fan in 1910.  In good condition, with some edge wear and mounting remnants on the verso.  Early 20th century stage star Blanche Bates was the favorite actress of stage impresario David Belasco. She created the female leads in two of his plays, "Madame Butterfly" and "The Girl of the Golden West," both better-known as the sources of Giacomo Puccini's popular operas. She made a number of forays into silent films before her death at the age of 68.

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