Masks and faces; or, before and behind the curtain.

TAYLOR, Tom. READE, Charles

Published by Richard Bentley, London, 1854

About this Item

[6], 71pp, [1]. Attractively bound by Worsfold in contemporary navy crushed morocco, tooled and lettered in gilt, red calf floral onlays to spine, T.E.G., original publisher's printed yellow paper wrappers bound in. Marbled endpapers, gilt dentelles, wrappers dust-soiled, else clean and crisp. Presentation copy, inked inscription to head of title: 'Mrs. Stirling, with T. Taylor's and C. Reade's kind regards'. A handsome copy of the first edition in book form of Charles Reade's (1814- 1884) and Tom Taylor's (1817-1870) two-act sentimental comedy. Initially performed in 1852, the play proved a resounding commercial success, running for 103 nights at the Haymarket and Adelphi theatres. In less than a month after Masks and Faces opened, Reade published a novel, Peg Woffington, to serve as a companion piece and capitalise on the production's popularity. The book dealt with the same subject, that is the tumultuous life of Irish actress Peg Woffington (1720-1760), and appropriated much of Taylor's dialogue without his permission. William Thomas Jennings Worsfold (1856-1929), London based bookbinder active from approximately 1889 until 1923. Size: 8vo.

Seller Inventory # AQ21035

Bibliographic Details

• Title: Masks and faces; or, before and behind the curtain.
• Publisher: Richard Bentley, London
• Publication Date: 1854
• Binding: Soft cover
• Edition: First edition.
• Signed: Signed by Author(s)