Collectors Portfolio of four gold-etch prints by Lionel Barrymore Can anyone tell you anything about them?

Answer 1

Lionel Herbert Blythe was born in Philadelphia, Pa., on April 28, 1878. His parents were Maurice Barrymore and Georgiana Drew. His sister was the famous actress Ethel Barrymore, and his brother was the actor John Barrymore.

Reportedly Lionel Barrymore studied art in Paris, but returned to the United States in 1905 to go into acting having his first role on Broadway in 1907. He also was in "silent movies", crossing over in to "talkies", winning a Best Actor Academy Award in "A Free Soul" in 1931.

He reportedly was happier in doing his drawings and etchings. The Society of American Sketchers named one of his prints the best prints of1935. Barrymore allowed only a few of his artworks to be reproduced and these have sold from $50 to $200. Unfortunately the "Collector's Portfolio of Gold-Etch Prints by Lionel Barrymore" does not fair as well and can be found by the dozens on Ebay with a few selling in the $2.00 - $10.00 range. These prints were made well after the Actor's death (1954), probably in the 1970 and appear in a Portfolio of 8 foiled prints in either gold or silver. The portfolio which holds the prints has a boat in the lower left corner and a sea bird on the inside flap.