The Kind Keeper; or, Mr Limberham; a Comedy: as it was Acted at the Duke's Theatre by His Royal Highnesses Servants. By John Dryden. Printed for R. Bentley and M. Magnes in Russell Street in London, 1680, 4to.
[New Wing D2297; Macdonald 85a; Pforzheimer 329]
FIRST EDITION of John Dryden's suppressed comedy, withdrawn after only three performances for "offensiveness", in 1678. Here being the first printed edition of this Dryden comedy in a particularly attractive contemporary blind-panelled calf binding very much in the manner of late 17th century bindings, though probably bound around the late 19th century to early 20th century.
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Size: 165 x 222 mm (approx.)
Condition:
Some light rubbing to boards and some wear to extremities. Spine sunned slightly. Contemporary endpapers toned at edges as commensurate with the calf binding. Small bookseller sticker of Henry Sotheran Ltd to base of ffep, slightly offset on to the title page. Some staining and tears throughout (no loss to text) with some loss to a couple of the leaves, also with some wormholing. Retains the prologue leaf at the rear. Final leaf of the play with some repairs. This leaf is also trimmed at the head and loses the title, presumably at the time of the rebind.
