African-American actor (1899–1949) best known for his role as Scarlett O’Hara’s “servant” Pork in Gone with the Wind. Extremely rare vintage glossy 2.75 x 3.75 deckle-edge photo, the striking and oddly haunting image depicting the actor in a straw hat looking over his right shoulder at the camera as he signs an album, boldly signed in fountain pen “Oscar Polk.” The photo was originally contained in an album on a page indicating that it was obtained during Polk’s engagement in the play “Mr. Big” in 1941, probably in the Boston area during the tryout run before its unsuccessful seven-performance run on Broadway in September and October of that year. A few very minor surface marks and small flaws inherent in negative, otherwise fine, clean condition. Because of the limitations on Polk’s career as an African-American performer and his death at the age of 49, his autograph material likely represents the single most elusive rarity among the stars of Gone with the Wind; this signed photo of him is one of a very few known to exist. A not-to-be-missed opportunity for the advanced GWTW collector! R&R COA.
