Lovell (George W.) The Wifes Secret. An Original Play, in Five Acts, the dedication copy, with a presentation inscription from the author, pencil markings to text, some foxing at start and end, front endpaper loose, contemporary crushed morocco, gilt, head of spine chipped, corners little worn, rubbed, g.e., 8vo, n.d. [c.1868].
⁂ The inscription reads To Mrs. Charles Kean, with warm thanks and kind regards of the author. Charles Kean had bought the rights to this Civil war swashbuckling romance for £400. It played for 36 nights at the Theatre Royal Haymarket in 1838, which was a considerable run for the time. In 1868 after Keans death his wife restored the rights of the play to Lovell, who had this edition published with a fulsome dedication to her and her late husband. The pencil annotations may well be by Ellen Kean herself, as they centre around her own speeches as Lady Eveline Amyott.
Provenance: Mrs. Charles Kean (ink presentation inscription and small book label Kean Collection no.78); Clement Scott, theatre critic for the Daily Telegraph and playwright (bookplate).
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