FIRST EDITION: Memoirs of Charles Mathews, Comedian. By Mrs. Mathews. London; Richard Bentley; 1838.
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The biography of the comedian Charles Mathews was written by his wife, Anne Jackson Mathews. The biography details the comedian's life and career in theatre and entertainment in the 18th and 19th centuries.
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Provenance:
Bookplate of Charles B. Cochran. The bookplate is likely to belong to the Sir Charles Blake Cochran (1872-1951), an English theatrical producer, as the bookplate depicts a theatre stage with two dancers. His plays were produced between the two World Wars, and he was best known his for plays: Bitter Sweet (1933), Evergreen (1934), and The Shaming of The True (1930). He worked in many famous theatres, and managed the Royal Albert Hall for 12 years. He was knighted in 1948. He was also known for his association with Noel Coward, the English playwright, who wrote plays such as Blithe Spirit, Private Lives, and Hay Fever.
Following an exhibition of Oliver Messel's masks at Claridge Galleries, London, in 1925, Charles B. Cochran engaged the young Messel to design costumes, masks, and sets for his numerous revues at London Pavilion. Together Cochran and Messel produced and designed the 1930s Adelphi Theatre production of Helen, which gained critical success for its stage, costume, interior and architectural designs.
Charles Mathews, the comedian, managed the Adelphi Theatre in London. Thus, Cochran worked at the theatre that Matthews previously managed.
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Postcard for the play "Sleeping Partners" starring Seymour Hicks and Ellaline Terriss, from 1918 at the New Theatre in Cardiff.
Size: 150 x 230 mm (approx., each)
Condition:
Spines with very minor spots of rubbing. All tooled labels present. All boards securely attached with very minor wear to joints and hinges. Boards with minor scuffing, scratches, and marks. Very minor shelf and edge wear. Light toning to page edges. Bookplate attached to front pastedown in all volumes. Text blocks extremely clean with very sporadic very minor foxing. Uncollated but appears complete.
