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Vesta Tilley

(1864-1952), Music hall entertainer

Vesta Tilley (Matilda Alice (née Powles), Lady de Frece)

Sitter in 59 portraits
As a child, Tilley toured the music halls in a solo singing and dancing act. Finding she expressed herself better as a boy, she adopted male attire and, with songs such as Burlington Bertie, became the most successful male impersonator in the business. During the war she gave performances to promote recruitment and raise funds for wounded soldiers. Her songs, including Jolly Good Luck To The Girl Who Loves A Soldier and The Army Of Today's All Right, encouraged so many men to enlist that she was called 'England's Greatest Recruiting Sergeant'.

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Vesta Tilley, published by Ogden's - NPG x193169

Vesta Tilley

published by Ogden's
bromide cigarette card, published circa 1894-1907
NPG x193169

Vesta Tilley, published by Ogden's - NPG x193171

Vesta Tilley

published by Ogden's
bromide cigarette card, published circa 1894-1907
NPG x193171

Vesta Tilley, published by Ogden's - NPG x196262

Vesta Tilley

published by Ogden's
bromide cigarette card, published circa 1894-1907
NPG x196262

Vesta Tilley, published by Ogden's - NPG x193170

Vesta Tilley

published by Ogden's
bromide cigarette card, published circa late 1890s
NPG x193170

Vesta Tilley, published by The Philco Publishing Co - NPG x33288

Vesta Tilley

published by The Philco Publishing Co
bromide postcard print, 1900s
NPG x33288

Vesta Tilley, by Brown, Barnes & Bell, published by  Rotary Photographic Co Ltd - NPG Ax160038

Vesta Tilley

by Brown, Barnes & Bell, published by Rotary Photographic Co Ltd
bromide postcard print, 1900s
NPG Ax160038

Vesta Tilley, published by Rotary Photographic Co Ltd - NPG Ax160039

Vesta Tilley

published by Rotary Photographic Co Ltd
bromide postcard print, 1900s
NPG Ax160039

Vesta Tilley, published by The Philco Publishing Co - NPG Ax160040

Vesta Tilley

published by The Philco Publishing Co
bromide postcard print, 1900s
NPG Ax160040

Vesta Tilley, published by Rotary Photographic Co Ltd - NPG Ax160041

Vesta Tilley

published by Rotary Photographic Co Ltd
bromide postcard print, 1900s
NPG Ax160041

Vesta Tilley, by Henry Roland White, published by  J. Beagles & Co - NPG Ax160042

Vesta Tilley

by Henry Roland White, published by J. Beagles & Co
bromide postcard print, 1900s
NPG Ax160042

Vesta Tilley; Walter de Frece, by Marcus Guttenberg, published by  The Philco Publishing Co - NPG Ax160045

Vesta Tilley; Walter de Frece

by Marcus Guttenberg, published by The Philco Publishing Co
bromide postcard print, 1900s
NPG Ax160045

Vesta Tilley, published by The Philco Publishing Co - NPG Ax160051

Vesta Tilley

published by The Philco Publishing Co
matte bromide postcard print, early 1900s
NPG Ax160051

Vesta Tilley, by Brown, Barnes & Bell, published by  Rotary Photographic Co Ltd - NPG Ax160071

Vesta Tilley

by Brown, Barnes & Bell, published by Rotary Photographic Co Ltd
matte bromide postcard print, 1900s
NPG Ax160071

Vesta Tilley, published by Rotary Photographic Co Ltd - NPG Ax160090

Vesta Tilley

published by Rotary Photographic Co Ltd
bromide postcard print, 1900s
NPG Ax160090

Vesta Tilley, published by Rotary Photographic Co Ltd - NPG Ax160239

Vesta Tilley

published by Rotary Photographic Co Ltd
matte bromide book postcard print, 1900s
NPG Ax160239

Vesta Tilley, published by Rotary Photographic Co Ltd - NPG Ax160258

Vesta Tilley

published by Rotary Photographic Co Ltd
bromide postcard print, 1900s
NPG Ax160258

Vesta Tilley, published by The Philco Publishing Co - NPG Ax160260

Vesta Tilley

published by The Philco Publishing Co
bromide postcard print, 1900s
NPG Ax160260

Vesta Tilley, published by The Philco Publishing Co - NPG Ax160474

Vesta Tilley

published by The Philco Publishing Co
bromide postcard print, 1900s
NPG Ax160474

Vesta Tilley, published by The Philco Publishing Co - NPG x138214

Vesta Tilley

published by The Philco Publishing Co
bromide postcard print, 1900s
On display in Room 25 on Floor 2 at the National Portrait Gallery
NPG x138214

Vesta Tilley, published by The Philco Publishing Co - NPG x139830

Vesta Tilley

published by The Philco Publishing Co
postcard print, 1900s
NPG x139830

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