Vintage original 3.5 x 5.5 in. British postcard featuring the silent film actor R. (ROBERT) HENDERSON BLAND c.1914. The handsome young actor is depicted in an interior studio medium shot wearing a dark suit and tie while posing in front of a dark backdrop. This postcard was printed in Great Britain/the United Kingdom by The Biograph Studio located at 107 Regent Street.  As seen in the bottom border, this postcard was signed in black ink by R. Henderson Bland thusly: "Very truly yours- R. Henderson Bland." This vintage original signed British postcard is unused and in very fine+ condition with just the faintest sign of wear on the tip of the corners.

While R. Henderson Bland made only 6 films between 1912 and 1921, his first film is very famous: From the Manger to the Cross, produced by the Kalem Company, in which he was featured as Christ  (ironically, Bland was selected for the role of Jesus in this silent film because director Olcott liked the way his voice sounded on the telephone). This feature-length film, which was released in 1912 and directed by the renowned early director Sidney Olcott, was actually shot on location in Palestine, Bethlehem, Jerusalem, Palestine and Syria. This is a very rare signed item that is related to this historic early American feature-length film.

From the Manger to the Cross is an account of the life of Jesus Christ, based on the books of the New Testament: After Jesus' birth is foretold to his parents, he is born in Bethlehem and is visited by shepherds and wise men. After a stay in Egypt to avoid King Herod, his family settles in Nazareth. After years of preparation, Jesus gathers together a group of disciples and begins to speak publicly and to perform miracles, inspiring hope in many of his listeners, but also arousing some dangerous opposition.