The play was first published in 1866. The file contains materials related to rehearsal and performance, including a published copy (Berlin: Eduard Bloch, n.d.), which has been annotated as a prompt-book; and 9 handwritten role books, for the following parts (the complete character list): von Stern, Major a. D.; Bertha, seine Tochter; Oscar von Siburg; Mathilde von Siburg, dessen Frau; von Waldow, Husaren-Offizier; von Schönberg, Assessor; Marie von Schönberg, Wittwe; Johann, Diener des Majors von Stern; and Diener des Herrn von Siburg. The published copy probably dates from 1866 or shortly after; the reverse of the title page bears a note from the author: "Den Bühnen gegenüber als Manuscript gedruckt und dem Theater-Commissions-Geschäft von H. Michaelson in Berlin zum ausschliesslichen Bühnen-Debit übergeben." The published copy and nearly all the role books (the exception being one that lacks its original cover) are labeled by hand as the property of Theodor Bloch, who was active in German-language theater in Philadelphia from at least the early 1870s until the mid 1890s, first as an actor and later as a prompter and proprietor of a theater lending library. The role books all have a similar appearance and seem to form a set that was prepared by Bloch, or at his direction. Many of the names of actors and actresses noted on the covers of role books are recognizable from the casts of other German-language plays performed in Philadelphia, and seem to reflect performances around 1875 and 1878. Other names that might reflect another, later performance could not be placed. The names written on the page listing characters in the published copy correspond well with the cast members reguarly appearing at Germania Theater, Philadelphia, in 1878. (See, for instance, theater newspapers in folder 690. The collection's holdings of theater newspapers and playbills contain no reference to this play.)
