About this Item
Seven eighteenth century plays, mostly comedies, bound in two volumes. Direct from the Regency library of Elizabeth Greenly, later Lady Elizabeth Coffin Greenly. Elizabeth Greenly, born at Titley Court, Herefordshire, was a noted and varied collector. She kept prolific diaries from 1784 until her death in 1839 which included her responses to current events and occasions in her daily life. Among the diaries many names and anecdotes of celebrities of the time appear, including Lord Byron, Marie Antoinette, Mary Wollstonecraft and Hannah More. She was known to comment on customs of foreign countries to which she and her friends had travelled, and had a keen interest in scientific discoveries and advancements including medicine and archaeology. The Greenly library contents show Elizabeth Greenly's numerous interests including: Welsh causes, Science, topography, travel, Bibliana and literature, particularly female poets. The library contains many first editions of contemporary works, and many are signed or contain her bookplate. The library contained over 1000 volumes which show the diversity and depth of her interests and give an insight into the life of this fascinating collector. These works come directly from the library of the Titley Court estate. Collation unavailable although each play appears complete. With an illustrated frontispiece to The Iron Chest, Lovers' Vows, Speed the Plow, A Cure for the Heart Ache and A New Way to Pay Old Debts. Dates given are from title pages of The Iron Chest and A New Way to Pay Old Debts as other volumes have no date printed. In half calf bindings. Externally, generally smart. Rubbing to spines and extremities. Prior owner's bookplate to front pastedowns, E H Greenly. Ink inscriptions to recto of front endpapers indicate the contents of each volume. Internally, both are generally firmly bound though strained in places. The Heir at Law has been bound without title page. Spotting throughout, heavier in places. Good. Seller Inventory # LTH13-E-13
Contact seller
Report this item
