Silk and satin theatre playbills and programmes were produced from the 18th century onwards, to commemorate special evenings at the theatre. Most theatres in the 19th century would have had some made to mark grand openings or milestone performances. By the end of the First World War however the practice had generally died out, only being revived very occasionally, more often at London's opera houses than any other theatres. This unusual miniature silk programme was produced to mark the opening of a short season at London's Adelphi Theatre starring the famous American tragedian Edwin Booth (1833-1893). He made his last appearance at the Adelphi as Don Caesar de Bazan at a matinee on 3rd August prior to a tour of the British Isles. One of ten children of the actor Junius Brutus Booth, Edwin Booth first appeared with his father's company in America and made his first appearances in England at the Haymarket Theatre in 1861, playing Shylock, Overreach and Cardinal Richelieu. He later ran the Winter Garden Theatre in New York until its destruction by fire, and opened his own theatre in New York in 1869. After he was declared bankrupt in the States, he appeared again in England between 1880 and 1882 when he alternated playing Othello and Iago with Henry Irving at the Lyceum Theatre, at Irving's invitation . Miniature silk programme produced for Richelieu by Lord Lytton, Adelphi Theatre, 26th June 1882, starring Edwin Booth (1883-1893). Printed silk in folded card programme. Miniature silk programme, a single sheet inserted into a folding card programme. The silk is printed in black ink on cream silk, is dated Monday June 26th 1882, and lists the cast starring Edwin Booth as Richelieu, followed by the other members of the cast, Mr. J.G. Shore as Louis XIII, Mr. Samuel Fisher as Gaston, Mr. E.H. Brooke as Baradas, Mr. Eben Plympton as Adrian de Mauprat, Mr. Lin Raye as De Beringhen, Mr. Hawtrey as Clermont, Mr. Robert Pateman as Joseph, Mr. Edward Prince as Huguet, Mr. William Younge as Francois, Mr. F. Mellish as First Secretary, Mr. J. Eversley as Second Secretary, Mr. J. Eversley as Third Secretary, Mr. D. Daniels as Captain of the Guard, Miss Bella Pateman as Julie de Morteman, and Miss Ellen Meyrick as Marion de Lorme. The management of Mr Wynn Miller is printed in upper case letters, underneath which is listed the name of the Stage Manager Mr. Robert Pateman, the Assistant Stage Manager Mr. R.S. Parker, and the Scenic Artist Charles Brooke. Along the bottom of the programme is noted: 'Furniture & Upholstery by Messrs. White, Winter & Co.' The card programme is printed in blue on the front cover: 'ADELPHI THEATRE Mr. EDWIN BOOTH AS RICHELIEU Monday June 26th, 1882.' The back of the card features a colour image of a bunch of orange and red flowers.