ABRAHALL (Chandos Hoskyns):

Rinaldo. A Dramatic Poem. In Three Acts.

London: J. S. Hodson & Son..., 1863. FIRST AND ONLY EDITION. 8vo, 214 x 133 mms., pp. [viii], 87 [88 colophon, iv adverts for books by author], including half-title, address in Cheam crimped in blind on rear free end-paper, original embossed cloth, with title in gilt with gilt ornament on front cover. A fine copy. Abrahall (1829 - 1891) published several books, which attracted appreciative reviews, some of which are quoted in the last four pages of this volume. The story is quite different from that of Handel's Rinaldo (1711). Slightly uncommon in libraries, with copies in BL, Bodleian, Cambridge, NLS; and Southern Methodist University.

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Book number: 8411

Catalogue: Drama

Keywords: Drama poetry literature

BAILLIE (Joanna):

Die Leidenschaften. Eine Reihe dramatischer Gemälde nach dem Englishcen von Joanna Baillie von Carl Friedrich Cramer,

Amsterdam un Leipzig, im Verlage von Rohloff und Compagnie, 1806. FIRST GERMAN TRANSLATION. 3 volumes. 8vo, 180 x 111 mms., pp. cxvi, 418; [7] 8- 400; [v] vi - xvi, [5] - 656, contemporary dark green half calf, spines, red morocco labels, marbled boards; top of spine chipped volume 2, corners worn, some sligthly wear to binding, but a very good and attractive set. The plays of Joanna Baillie (1762–1851) did not have the success in her lifetime that they perhaps deserved, and their reputation was not much helped by a leading article published in 1803 inThe Edinburgh Review, written by Francis Jeffrey, who dealt rather severely with the group called Plays of the Passions, the ones translated here. They were published in 1708 and 1802, with a third volume in 1812. In this translation the plays are characters, perhaps rather Teutonically, by sub-genre: Love, Hate, and Ambition. The translator, Carl Friedrich Cramer (1752 - 1802) also successfully translated the works of Rousseau and Diderot into German, and Klopstock and Schiller into French: Joanna Baillie then must have had qualities in her dramas that Cramer considered on a literary and aesthetic level associated with better-known, and still read, authors of this period. Norma Clarke in her ODNB entry on Baillie asserts that, "Few women writers have received such universal commendation for their personal qualities and literary powers as Joanna Baillie. Her intelligence and integrity were allied to a modest demeanour which made her, for many, the epitome of a Christian gentlewoman. She was also shrewd, observant of human nature, and persistent to the point of obstinacy in developing her own views and opinions. What Francis Jeffrey called her 'narrow and peculiar views of dramatic excellence' (EdinR, 261) remained essentially unchanged throughout her life, and she took pride in having carried out her major work, the Plays on the Passions, more or less in the form she had originally conceived. Her inventive faculties were widely remarked upon. She was on friendly terms with all the leading women writers of her time. Maria Edgeworth, recording a visit in 1818, summed up her appeal for many: 'Both Joanna and her sister have most agreeable and new conversation, not old, trumpery literature over again and reviews, but new circumstances worth telling, apropos to every subject that is touched upon; frank observations on character, without either ill-nature or the fear of committing themselves; no blue-stocking tittle-tattle, or habits of worshipping or being worshipped.'" Goedeke, IV 1 1091, 40, and VII, 726, 428, 1; Price and Price, Literature 51; Brockhaus Directory p. 1; Schütt (Cramer) p. 325. OCLC locates two copies in Germany, two in The Netherlands, two in Denmark, one at the National Library of Scotland, and another at the University of Waterloo, Ontario. No copies traced in any American library.

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Book number: 9770

Catalogue: Drama

Keywords: Drama women literature

BAKER (David Erskine):

Biographia Dramatica; Or, a Companion to the Playhouse: Containing Historical and critical Memoirs, and original Anecdotes, of British and Irish Dramatic Writers, from the Commencement of our Theatrical Exhibitions; among whom are Some of the Most Celebrated Actors...Together with An Introductory View of the Rise and Progress of the British Stage. Originally compiled, to the year 1764, by David Erskine Baker. Continued thence to 1782, by Isaac Reed...And brought down to the End of November 1811, with very consideration Additions and Improvements throughout, by Stephen Jones.

London: Printed for Longman...[et al], 1812. 3 volumes in 4 (volume 1 in 2 parts). 8vo, pp. lxxxv [lxxxvi Abbreviations], 384, [ii], [385] - 789 [790 blank]; [iv], 404; [iv], 478, including half-title in each volume, contemporary tree calf, rebacked in rather unsympathetic calf and without titles or volume numbers- but sound.

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Book number: 2468

Catalogue: Drama

Keywords: Drama literature

BEHN (Aphra):

The Plays, Histories, and Novels of the Ingenious Mrs Aphra Behn. With Life and Memoirs.

London: John Pearson..., 1871. 6 volumes. 12mo, 183 x 108 mms., pp. vi, 360; [ii], 360; [ii], 344; [ii], 418; xii, 324; 336, with portrait frontispiece, in volumes 1 and 5, 2 other illustrations in volume 5 and one in volume 6, uncut in original two tone paper boards; spines soiled, front joint volumes 1 and 6 tender. These six volumes reprint works of Mrs. Behn first printed in 1725 and 1724 and were edited by R. H. Shepperd. Volume 1 - 4 are facsimiles of the third edition of plays originally published as: Plays / written by the late ingenious Mrs Behn. London : Printed for Mary Poulson, 1724; while volumes 5 and 6 are facsimiles of the eighth edItion of the novels originally published as: Histories and Novels / Written by the late Ingenious Mrs Behn. London : Printed for W. Feales, 1735. Janet Todd, in The Critical Fortunes of Aphra Behn (1998) noted that the reprint provoked a wide range of critical observations: "In the review in The Examiner (20 January 1872) Behn is praised for the 'smart writing' and 'racy plotting' of her plays. In The Bookseller (March 1872) she is judged 'dull and unreadable' by contemporary standards, yet her works can be perused for an understanding of her age...." On the other hand, The Saturday Review (January 1872), titling the review "Literary Garbage," stated that "if Mrs. Behn is read at all, it can only be from a love of impurity for its own sake, for rank indecency of the dullest, stupidest, grossest kind, unrelieved by the faintest gleam of with and sensibility." Buy at your own risk!

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Book number: 7994

Catalogue: Drama

Keywords: Drama women literature

[BICKERSTAFFE (Isaac)]:

Love in a Village; A Comic Opera: As is is Performed at the Theatre Royal in Covent-Garden. The Eleventh Edition.

London: Printed for R. Baldwin, J. Newbery..., 1765. 8vo (in 4s), pp. [iv], ii [iii blank, iv Dramatis Personae], 73 [74 - 75 Table of Songs, 76 blank], including half-title, disbound; first three leaves detached at inner margin.

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Book number: 4441

Catalogue: Drama

Keywords: Drama theatre literature

BOURDILLON (Francis W.):

A Lost God. With Illustrations by H. J. Ford.

London: Elkin Mathews..., 1891. FIRST EDITION. Tall 8vo, pp. 58 [59 Notes, 60 printer's imprint], three full-page illustrations, all edges uncut, quarter contemporary vellum, publisher's cloth; free end-papers foxed, contemporary name on half-title, corners very slightly crushed. One of 500 copies. Inscribed "With the Publisher's Compliments." on the recto of the front free end-paper.

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Book number: 3121

Catalogue: Drama

Keywords: Drama poetry literature

BOURSAULT (Edme):

Theatre de Feu. Nouvelle Edition, Revué, corrigeée & augmentée de plusieurs Piéces, qui n'ont point paru dans les précedentes.

A Paris, Chez Francois Le Breton..., 1725. 3 volumes. 12mo, 165 x 100 mms., pp. [xxxviii], 324; [ii], 50, [16], 75 [76 Privilege], [x], 70, [8], 91 [92 Privilege], [6], 64, 4, 385 - 391[ 392 blank]; [ii], 86, [6], 99 - 138, [20], 100, [12], 99 [100 blank], finely bound in contemporary French mottled calf, spines ornately gilt in compartments, red leather label; very slight loss of gilt on spines, corners slightly worn, but an attractive set. Boursault (1638 - 1701) seems to have had more success with his two tragedies, Germanicus and Marie Stuart than with his other works. The latter work may be an instance of the so-called "auld alliance" between France and Scotland. Mary Stewart (1542 - 1587), Queen of Scots, spent 14 years in France, and her attempt to gain the throne of England, with all its permutations and her eventual execution, generated a vast quantity of literary and other artistic representations. Boursault's play was first performed in 1684, but it is unlikely to have been the first dramatic representation in French of Mary. It was certainly preceded by La Reina María Estuarda by the Spanish author Juan Bautista Diamante.

John Price Antiquarian BooksProfessional seller

Book number: 7225

Catalogue: Drama

Keywords: Drama theatre literature

BURGOYNE (Lieutenant General John):

The Dramatic and Poetical Works of the Late Lieut. Gen. J. Burgoyne; to which is prefixed, Memoirs of the Author. Embellished with Copper-Plaes.

London: Printed by C. Whittingham, for Scatcherd and Letterman, Longman, Hurst, Rees, and Orme; R. Scholey; P. and W. Wynne; J. Booker; J.J. Stockdale; J. Booth; J. Carpenter; R. Ryan; G. Richards; C. Chapple; and H. Ebers., 1808. FIRST COLLECTED EDITION. 2 volumes. 8vo, 207 x 129 mms., pp. [5] 6 - 235 [236 blank]; xii 13] - 248, one engraved plate in volume 1 at page 22, engraved frontispiece and 2 other engraved plates in volume 2, by W. J. White after R. Corbould, complete with four plates as found in other copies, contemporary half calf, gilt spines, olive morocco labels; spines a little dried, some slight browning of title-pages and plates, but a good set with the armorial bookplate of G. P. Rickman on the front paste-down end-paper (pasted over another bookplate) of each volume. Burgoyne (1723–1792) is remembered in American history as the officer who surrendered to the colonists after a desperate and furious battle at Bemis Heights in1777. He had more success as a dramatisst, as Max M. Mintz records in the Oxford DNB: "Burgoyne returned to literary pursuits, having in 1774 authored a play, The Maid of The Oaks, a mix of concealed identities featuring a female advocate of women's equality. The play had been written in two acts as part of the lavish wedding celebrations for Edward Smith Stanley, later twelfth earl of Derby, and Lady Elizabeth Hamilton, held at Burgoyne's home, The Oaks, near Epsom in Surrey. It was later expanded to five acts by David Garrick and became a popular part of the Drury Lane repertory. Burgoyne also wrote political satire, and he achieved a success with a comedy, The Heiress, regarded by contemporaries and later critics as an authentic depiction of upper-class society of the period. Presented in London at the Drury Lane Theatre Royal in 1786, it ran for thirty performances and remained popular in England and on the continent for half a century. Less successful was his libretto for Thomas Linley's adaptation of a French opera, Richard Coeur de Lion (1788)." The Monthly Review gave the volumes a firm endorsement in 1808, describing the work as "A very neat edition of the various offerings to the Muses, which were presented by an accomplished gentleman and a brave and skilful officer."

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Book number: 9985

Catalogue: Drama

Keywords: Drama poetry literature

CIBBER (Colley):

The Dramatic Works of Colley Cibber.

London: Printed for J. Clarke...[et al], 1760. 4 volumes. 12mo, pp. [iii] - xii, [3] - 394 [395 - 396 Epilogue]; 372; [3] - 369 [370 - 371 Epilogue, 372 blank]; 381 [382 - 383 Epilogue, 384 blank], engraved portrait of Cibber as frontispiece in volume 1, early 20th century quarter roan, gilt spines, plain boards; front volume 2 crudely repaired, ex-library, with library stamps in blind on various leaves, shelf marks on verso of title-pages, library pockets and date due labels at end of each volume. A very short biography of Cibber (1671 - 1757) appears in volume, and sixteen of his plays are reprinted. The first collected edition 1721 contained ten of his plays. A further edition of his plays appeared in 1777, in five volumes.

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Book number: 4244

Catalogue: Drama

Keywords: Drama theatre literature

COLMAN (George), the Younger:

The Iron Chest; a Play, In Three Acts. First Represented at the Theatre Royal, Drury-Lane, on Saturday, March 12, 1796. The Fourth Edition.

London: Printed for Longman, Hurst, Rees, and Orme..., 1808. 8vo, pp. 109 [110 blank], including half-title, disbound; some notes in pencil in margins and on last page of text.

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Book number: 3554

Catalogue: Drama

Keywords: Drama

COMEDIES. EIGHTEENTH CENTURY.

[SHERIDAN (Frances)]: The Discovery. A Comedy. Written by the Editor of Miss Sidney Bidulph. The Second Edition.

London: Printed for T. Davies...; R. and J. Dodsley..., 1763. 8vo (in 4s), 206 x 122 mms., pp. [iv], 94 [95 - 96 Epilogue], top margin of title-page defective with loss of one letter in title, title-page mounted. BOUND WITH: COLMAN (George) and GARRICK (David): The Clandestine Marriage, A Comedy. As it is Acted at the Theatre-Royal in Drury-Lane. The Third Edition. London: Printed for T. Becket and P. A. De Hondt..., 1766. 8vo, 206 x 122 mms., pp. [vi], 90 [91 - 94 Epilogue]; lacks half-title, text water-stained. BOUND WITH: [WYCHERLEY (William)]: The Plain Dealer: A Comedy. As it is Performed at the Theatre Royal in Drury Lane. With Alterations from Wycherly [sic; the alterations are by Isaac Bickerstaff.]. 8vo (in 4s), 206 x 122 mms., pp. [viii], 100, text lightly water-stained. BOUND WITH: [WYCHERLEY (William)]: The Country Girl,A Comedy, (Altered from Wycherley [by David Garrick]). London: Printed for T. Becket and P. a. De Hondt..., 1767. 8vo, 206 x 122 mms., pp. [iv], 78, text slightly water-stained. 4 volumes in 1, recent full calf, raised bands between gilt rules on spine, black leather label. It looks as if the volume originally contained the four plays found here and has been rebound rather well.

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Book number: 7322

Catalogue: Drama

Keywords: Drama theatre literature

CONGREVE (William):

The Works of Mr. William Congreve.

London: Printed for the Editor, and sold by J. Wenman..., 1778. 2 volumes. 8vo, pp. [iv], iv, 339 [340 blank]; [iv], [iv], 311 [312 blank], including half-titles, blank leaf between each play, 5 engraved frontispieces, contemporary speckled sheepskin; several leaves browned, spines almost completely devoid of leather, with cords exposed and joints reasonably strong.

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Book number: 3654

Catalogue: Drama

Keywords: Drama poetry literature

CORNEILLE (Pierre):

Chefs-D'Oeuvre de P. Corneille. Edition Stereotype, D'apres le procede de Firmin Didot.

Paris: Didot..., 1813 4 volumes. Small 8vo, 138 x 88 mms., pp. 256; 317 [318 Table]; 314 [315 Table, 316 blank]; 242 [243 Table, 244 blank], contemporary quarter red sheepskin, marbled boards, gilt spines (rubbed); front joint volume 1 slightly worn; armorial bookplate on each front paste-down end-paper.

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Book number: 5871

Catalogue: Drama

Keywords: Drama theatre literature

D'URFEY (Thomas), Mr.:

New Opera's, with Comical Stories, and Poems, on Several Occasions, Never before Printed. Being the Remaining Pieces, Written by Mr. D'Urfey.

London: Printed for William Chetwood, at Cato's Head in Russel-Street, Covent-Garden, 1721. 8vo, 190 x 118 mms., pp, [10], 88,[4], 89-349, 348-382, in each with a separate title-page; the pagination and register are continuous, pages 348-349 repeated in pagination, but text is continuous, contemporary panelled calf, neatly rebacked in matching style, red morocco label; a very good copy, with the armorial bookplate of Stanley Earl of Derby on the front paste-down end-paper The texts are 1): The Queens of Brentford: or Bayes no Poetaster: A Music Farce, or Comical Opera. 2) The Grecian Heroine: Or, The The Fate of Tyranny. A Tragedy. 3) The Athenian Jilt: Or, Intriguing Cullies. The First Comick Story. 4): Ariadne: Or, The Triumph of Bacchus. An Opera. 5): The Plague of Imperitnence: Or, A Barber a Fury. The Third Comical Story. 6): Socrates and Timandera: Or, Love the best Philosopher. 7): Elegies, Poems, and New Song by Mr. D'Urfey. 8): Poems on Several Occasions, and Songs. Bt Mr. D'Urfey. The playwright and author Thomas D'Urfey (1653?–1723) was said to have a terrible stutter, which disappeared when he was singing. He had his first major success with Madam Fickle (1677), and later as ODNB notes, Charles II "was present at three of the first five performances of A Fond Husband (1677), an extremely successful bawdy romp which held the stage for days, was frequently revived, and which went through three seventeenth-century editions, and later attended the third performance of The Royalist (1681; published 1682), the author's benefit. He even stood shoulder to shoulder with the writer in their rendition of 'Advice to the City'—'a famous Song', D'Urfey's subtitle recalls, 'so remarkable, that I had the Honour to Sing it with King Charles at Windsor; He holding one part of the Paper with Me' (D'Urfey, Pills, 1.246)." Alexander Pope was impresssed with his skill, writin in a letter to Henry Cromwell that he had " learn'd without book a Song of Mr Tho: Durfey's, who is your only Poet of tolerable Reputation in this Country'. 'Dares any one despise Him', he continues, 'who has made so many men Drink?' " Fofxon, page 208.

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Book number: 10273

Catalogue: Drama

Keywords: Drama music literatkure

DENHAM (Sir John):

Poems and Translations; With the Sophy, A Tragedy.

Glasgow: Printed by Robert and Andrew Foulis, 1751. FIRST FOULIS EDITION. 12mo, 148 x 86 mms., pp. [vi], 228 [229 - 231 Epilogue and Contents, 232 blank, 233 - 234 adverts], contemporary calf, rebacked, gilt spine, green morocco label. A very good copy. Denham (1615 - 1669) made his reputation with this play when it was acted and published in 1641; a verse tragedy, it was based on events in Persia under the tyrannic Shah Abbas I (d. 1628). Sound familiar? Denham's play alludes to a number of contemporary events in England at the time, but with slight modification the language could be easily applied to that part of Arabia today and the play produced without alteration in theatres through the world. Gaskell 188.

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Book number: 9005

Catalogue: Drama

Keywords: Drama poetry literature