Beyond rare and just fantastic original costume sketch for actor Cyprian Matthews in the role of William Tucker for an unknown English play, beautifully sketched out in graphite and watercolor on an off-white 6.5 x 8.5-inch sheet, and signed in the print form of his autograph: "J. Whale—1920." Handsomely double-matted and framed to an overall size of 13 x 15 inches. In fine condition, with a few faint stains along the edges. Accompanied by an RR Auction certificate from Auction 1687. This is just the fourth example of Whale's autograph we have encountered in over 35 years. Brilliant, sensitive English film and theater director, and artist James Whale is beloved of horror, sci-fi and fantasy buffs for his immortal classics Frankenstein (1931), which is widely considered the finest horror film of all-time; The Old Dark House (1932); The Invisible Man (1933); and Bride of Frankenstein (1935).  Elsewhere, he is noted for Journey's End (1930), based upon the stage production of the same name, and the definitive film version of Show Boat (1936). Whale committed suicide by drowning in 1959, after years of living in obscurity and shunning fans, making his autograph one of the rarest of all sought out by horror collectors. 

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