The Theatrical Journal.. This item is unavailable.The Theatrical Journal.

Illus. headpiece 58 individual parts, each 12pp, text in 2 columns. Vol. XXVII, Nos 1361-1411, Jan. 10 to Dec. 26 1866; Vol. XXX, No. 1542, June 30 1869 & Vol. XXXI, Nos 1593-1599, 1870. v.g. as issued, No. 1542 with few editorial corrections to first page. The Theatrical Journal, with varying subtitles, was founded by William Bestow, the first issue appearing in December 1839 costing three half pence; it continued until volume 32, December 1873, price one penny. It appears to be scarce, with runs at BL, Senate House and Oxford Brookes only. Bestow, whose biography by Ben William Watkins was published in the periodical from May 1862, was born in 1788, his father a Nottingham lace maker. He developed 'a pretty smart taste for theatre and concerts' before coming to London in 1800. On moving permanently to the capital, he became acquainted with many in the theatrical profession but spent much time attending amateur performances and The Theatrical Journal was aimed at noticing 'the efforts of these embryonic Titans' and as such is an important source of information on the minor theatres of London. Bestow's biographer describes him as 'an honourable and respected patriarch in the service of the Muses'.…