Theatrical Biography
Or, Memoirs of the Principal Performers of the Three Theatres Royal, Drury-Lane, Covent-Garden, and Hay-Market
London: Printed for S. Bladon, 1772. 6.25 inches, duodecimo. Contemporary full calf with gilt ruling to boards, maroon and gold morocco spine labels, volume numerals in gilt to spine. Two additional maroon and gilt spine labels in matching style to each volume: "D", "2". Complete in two volumes: (4), vii, 156; (4), 147, (5) pp. A collection of biographical sketches of the leading actors and actresses of Georgian London's three patent theatres — including David Garrick, Samuel Foote, and Mrs. Abington.
Very Good. Exterior hinges cracked on both volumes; boards remain secure. Glossy library dressing to each volume. Wear to corners and edges; spotting to covers, white marks to lower edge of both. Top edges dusty and spotted. "D 2" ink stamp to pastedown of each volume, corresponding to the labels on the spines — evidently a former private library shelf-mark system, no other institutional markings. Bookplate to pastedown of each volume. Small pencil notation to second front endsheet of Vol. I. Black stain to half title of Vol. I. Contents clean and unmarked throughout both volumes.
Attractively bound and with a notable theatrical-collector provenance.
Provenance: Bookplate of Evert Jansen Wendell (1860–1917) to each volume. Wendell was a prominent New York collector and bibliophile with strong Harvard ties, whose extensive theatrical, autograph, and literary collections were bequeathed to Harvard University at his death, with the remainder of his estate sold at auction by the American Art Association in 1919. A fitting provenance for a set of theatrical biographies.
Lowe pp. 335/336
