[Rarebooks] OFFER: LIMITED MEMENTO OF THE 19TH CENTURY AMERICAN THEATRE.

[Laderman]

BUNNER, H. C. et al:  A PORTFOLIO OF PLAYERS : WITH A PACKET OF NOTES 
THEREON / by H. C. Bunner ... New York : J. W. Bouton, 1888, c1887. 89 Pp., 
[22] leaves of plates : ports., group port.[all after fine photographs]; 32 
cm. "One hundred and ten copies, only, have been printed of this book. 
Twenty-five with proof impressions of the plates, and eighty-five plain. 
This is no. 55, with the plain plates. [signed] R. Doxney." The guiding 
spirit behind this publication was Augustin Daly. It shows all the great 
stars in his company, and besides giving them in various roles, also has a 
gravure after a photograph of Daly reading a new play to them, very well, 
and theatrically staged. The actors whose portraits are included, in 
character, several to many times, begin with ADA REHAN, who also gets the 
Frontispiece. The others are JAMES LEWIS, Mrs. G. H. GILBERT, JOHN DREW, 
CHARLES FISHER, JENNY O'JONES and KATE VERITY, seen with Miss Rehan. Daly 
was dramatic critic for several New York papers from 1859, and he adapted 
or wrote a number of plays, Under the Gaslight (1867) being his first 
success. In 1869 he was the manager of the Fifth Avenue theatre, and in 
1879 he built and opened Daly's theatre in New York, and, in 1893, Daly's 
theatre in London. At the New York theatre he gathered a company of 
players, headed by Miss Ada Rehan, which made for it a high reputation, and 
for them he adapted plays from foreign sources, and revived Shakespearean 
comedies in a manner before unknown in America. He took his entire company 
on tour, visiting England, Germany and France, and some of the best actors 
on the American stage owed their training and first successes to 
him.  Among these were Clara Morris, Sara Jewett, John Drew, Fanny 
Davenport, Maude Adams, Mrs Gilbert and many others. This copy was 
presented "with the compliments of Agustin Daly" in his broad hand, in ink 
on the first blank page after the watered silk EPs. His name is also found, 
in that hand on the silk ribbon in gilt, on the front board. The original 
marbled boards remain, but the silk backstrip and corners have been 
renewed. The ties made from an extension of the ribbon are gone. Within the 
only flaw is some foxing in the margins of some of the plates. These are 
beautifully printed photogravures on very fine hand made paper. This was 
definitely a "keeper" for the recipients, and 20 American libraries and 2 
in Europe have copies. However it has not been at auction in  the past 25 
years and it is very rarely seen for sale. As a photographic illustrated 
book, it is not noted in the NYP list, nor can it be found on any other 
photographically illustrated book list. It is, in fact a distinguished book 
of that sort.Its rarity is a shame because it is the finest printed memento 
of the American stage just before the turn of the 20th century, and would 
be a boon if seen by students of the heyday of the American theatre. A near 
Fine copy. $850.00

ZITA BOOKS / NEW YORK, N.Y. / G. LADERMAN
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telephone: 212-866-4715  email:zita at speakeasy.net

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