Henry Irving

London: Heinemann, 1906-10-13. First edition. Good. Two volumes in original dark red cloth, lettered and decorated in gilt. Irving side portrait in gilt to the front panels. Both volumes show fraying at the external hinges. The internal hinges remain strong. This is a completely unique edition in that it is a presentation copy absolutely crammed with tipped in items. Volume one has a tipped in signed photograph of Irving. Beneath the photograph is the following statement - "This card and the one in volume 2 were signed by him in his dressing room for the Fresh Air Fund the night he died. P.K." The card in volume 2 is missing. It looks to have been excised. Also contained within are tipped in letters. All of these letters are hand written, dated, and signed by themselves. The letters are from comic writer and playwright, Charles Francis Burnand; English comic actor, theatrical manager, and theatrical producer, J. L. Toole; the beautiful, and without doubt, one of the greatest of all English actresses, Ellen Terry; English actor and playwright, Wilson Barrett; very famous actor in her own right, and later teaming up with legendary Charles Kean, Mrs. Charles (Ellen) Kean; and finally, actor and actor manager, Sir Squire Bancroft. Besides the letters listed above, there are approximately 13 tipped in documents - articles from "The Westminster Budget," and newspaper clippings. The letters are bright, complete and easy to read.

Price: $1,300.00


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