Justin Croft Antiquarian Books : (THEATRE.) [SMITH, John and Robert SAYER, publishers]. - Dramatic characters, or Different portraits of the English stage [Caractères dramatiques, ou Portraits divers du théatr...

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(THEATRE.) [SMITH, John and Robert SAYER, publishers]. Dramatic characters, or Different portraits of the English stage [Caractères dramatiques, ou Portraits divers du théatre anglois.] London: for Rob[er]t. Sayer... and Jno [i.e. John Raphael]. Smith, ‘Published as the Act directs, 15 Jan[uar]y 1770.

12mo (140 × 108 mm), ff. [iv], 24. Engraved throughout, printed on one side only, including separate titles in English and French, dedication (to Garrick), contents and 24 handcoloured plates, some heightened with gum arabic. A few plates lightly browned, occasional finger soiling, but generally very fresh. Contemporary calf, gilt, sides with single ruled borders, spine with 5 raised bands, gilt roundels in compartments. Slightly rubbed, joints cracked but secure. A very good copy.

FIRST EDITION. Dedicated to David Garrick, then at the height of his celebrity, and with 7 of the 28 plates depicting him, including him playing Shakespeare's Hamlet, King Lear and Macbeth. Other plates include: Mrs Yates as Lady Macbeth, Macklin as Shylock and Dibdin as Mungo (from The Padlock). The prints of Garrick and his contemporaries are based on Jean Louis Fesch's portraits. In 1766 Fesch sent Garrick some of his French theatrical portraits in exchange for a print of Garrick. An expanded second edition (with 38 plates) appeared in the same year.

£3000.00 (equal to approx. US$4750.44* or €3710.13* for 22 May 2012)

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