The George Edwardes Birthday Book.

£95 · Offered by Shapero Rare Books

An intriguing 1890s production of a theatrical bent, preceded only by issues that were distributed to audience members; the book serves as a diary, interspersed with plates featuring actors, often in Japanese character. George Edwardes was an impresario who ruled a theatrical empire including the Gaiety, Daly's Theatre, the Adelphi Theatre and others, and sent touring companies around Britain and abroad. The photographs include Marie Tempest, Letty Lind, Hayden Coffin and Rutland Barrington. Owen Hall wrote many highly successful musical comedies in the 1890s, including A Gaiety Girl, An Artist's Model, The Geisha and A Greek Slave, but was undone by gambling; his pseudonym was 'Payn Nunn', a pun on 'Owing All'. 'Third Edition'; large 8vo (225 x 170 mm); photogravure title-page, printed in blue throughout with decorative borders, 9 photogravure plates, tissue guards, red endpapers stamped in silver; publisher's red roan blocked in gilt, worn at edges with sight loss to spine ends.

• Binding: Hardcover

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