Description

[000074] Mathews, Mrs, Memoirs of Charles Mathews, Comedian, Richard Bentley, London, 1839, Second Edition. Good. Half Calf and Cloth, 8vo. Four volumes complete – Volume One – xi, 434pp; Volume Two – xi, 470pp; Volume Three – xiv, 650pp and Volume Four – xii, 504pp.

Uniform half-calf and cloth, raised bands spines in six panels, double contrasting leather title/volume labels to spines, remaining panels decorated with volute tools in blind.

Spines very slightly dulled, leather to corners rubbed, corners slightly bumped, light foxing to cloth covers. Internally some light browning, especially to engraved frontispieces, but generally fairly bright and clean, previous owners (Sir Robert Johnson Eden) armorial bookplate to front pastedown of volume one.

“Mathews, Charles (1776-1835), actor …. for the 1827-8 season. His nightly salary was then the highest ever paid to a comic performer” (Oxford DNB)