The thespian dictionary, or, Dramatic biography of the present age : containing sketches of the lives, lists of the productions, various merits, &c. &c. of all the principal dramatists, composers, commentators, managers, actors, and actresses of the United Kingdom : interspersed with numerous original anecdotes, forming a complete modern history of the English stage.

Format:

Book

Contributor:

Cundee, J. (James), publisher.

Chapple, Clement, bookseller.

Albion Press, printer.

Horace Howard Furness Memorial Library (University of Pennsylvania)

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Actors--Great Britain--Biography--Dictionaries.

Actors.

Actresses--Great Britain--Biography--Dictionaries.

Actresses.

Great Britain.

Genre:

Biographies.

Dictionaries.

Publishers' advertisements -- England -- London -- 19th century.

Penn Provenance:

Forrest, Edwin, Estate of (donor) (Forrest copy)

Edmunds, B. (autograph) (Furness copy)

Physical Description:

iv, [396] pages, [21] leaves of plates : portraits ; 19 cm

Edition:

Second edition / with considerable improvements and additions : illustrated by twenty-two elegant engravings.

Distribution:

[London] : Sold by C. Chapple, Pall-Mall.

Manufacture:

[London] : Albion Press printed.

Other Title:

Thespian dictionary

Dramatic biography of the present age

Place of Publication:

[London] : Published by James Cundee, Ivy-Lane, Paternoster-Row ..., 1805.

Notes:

Added engraved illustrated title leaf reads: The thespian dictionary or Dramatic biography of the present age. Published by James Cundee, Ivy lane, London. 1805.

Signatures: [A]² B-2L⁶.

Largely without pagination.

Engraved plates: added title leaf and 20 portraits of actors (Mrs. Atkin, Mrs. Bellamy, Mrs. Billington, Mr. Cooke, Miss De Camp, Mr. Dibdin, Mr. Dignum, Mr. Fawcet, Mr. Incledon, Mr. H. Johnston, Mr. John Kemble, Mrs. Martyr, Mrs. Mountain, Mr. Munden, Mr. Murray, Mr. John Palmer, William Parsons, Mrs. Robinson, R.B. Sheridan, Esqr. M.P., Mrs. Siddons).

Engraved portrait at foot of page iv.

Addenda on leaf 2L3v.

"New and select works now publishing by James Cundee, at the Albion-Press, in Ivy-lane, Paternoster-row, London.": Leaves 2L4-2L6.

Local Notes:

Furness copy 1 imperfect: one plate (portrait of Mrs. Siddons) wanting.

Furness copy 2 has manuscript corrections to text on title leaf and leaf K3r.

Furness copy 2 purchased for the Penn Libraries in 2021 from Honey & Wax.

Furness copy 2 has autograph ("B Edmunds") on blank leaf preceding frontispiece plate.

Furness copy 2 extra-illustrated with 19 engraved plates of portraits (most dated between 1790 and 1808 and published by James Asperne, John Sewell, Mathews and Leigh, or John Bull): Mr. John Bannister, comedian (facing leaf C2r), Master Betty, the young Roscius … (facing leaf D4r), Willm. Brereton comedian … (facing leaf E3r), Louisa Countess Craven (facing leaf E4v), Mr. Elliston (facing leaf K3r), Mr. Emery (facing leaf K4r), Henderson (facing leaf O5v), Prince Hoare Esqr. (facing leaf P4v), Thomas Holcroft (facing leaf P5v), Mr. Moody … (facing leaf Z2r), Thomas Moreton Esqr. (facing leaf Z4v), Arthur Murphy Esqr. (facing leaf 2A3r), Mr. Robt. Palmer (facing leaf 2C1r), Miss Pope … (facing leaf 2C4v), Mrs. Pritchard (facing leaf 2C6v), Mr. Quick (facing leaf 2D1v), Mrs. Siddons … (facing leaf 2G3v), Sir John Vanburgh (facing leaf 2H5v), and Woodward (facing leaf 2K5v).

Furness copy 2 bound in contemporary full tree calf; gold-tooled Greek key border on boards; gold-tooled cover edges and turn-ins; gold-tooled spine panels; gold-stamped red morocco spine label ("THESPIAN DICTIONARY"); marbled endpapers; all edges yellow.

OCLC:

351468