A significant treasure of a Mrs Siddons fan and theatre buff! The Welsh-born London stage actress was most famous by her portrayal of Lady Macbeth. Other celebrity-cementing moments include when she fainted at the sight of the Elgin Marbles, and that she carried her many pregnancies on stage, notably using her maternal powers to draw empathy from the audience, even in her portrayal of Lady Macbeth.

Unique binding of six plays featuring Mrs Siddons “marked with variations in the manager’s book at the Theatre Royal in Covent Garden”. One of the greatest tragic actresses, Mrs. Siddons was queen of Drury Lane from 1782 after her success in The Fatal Marriage, included here. Each play with frontispiece engraving featuring Mrs. Siddons in the leading role; one shows both Mrs Siddons and her son.

The Fair Penitent, by Nicholas Rowe 64p; The Tragedy of Jane Shore, Nicholas Rowe 72p; Venice Preserv’d or A Plot Discovered by Mr. Otway 72p; Isabella or, The Fatal Marriage. Altered from Southern by D. Garrick 60p; The Mourning Bride by Mr Congreve 72p; The Grecian Daughter by Arthur Murphy 66p. All with publishers advertisements, dedication letters, prologues and epilogues. Five or fewer of each edition held in UK libraries per ESTC, this edition of The Fair Penitent not held in British Library.

17x11x2.5cm. Half calf with marbled boards. Only marking is an impression on the recto of the first frontispiece “oh how sweet it is”. Contents in very good condition, light spotting. Attractive worn binding, reattached front board with thread extensions and consolidated on inside with a Japanese tissue hinge, by Bainbridge Conservation.