SHERIDAN, Richard Brinsley The Critic or A Tragedy Rehearsed. A Dramatic Piece in Three Acts as it is performed at the Theatre Royal in Drury Lane. T. Becket. 1781.
8vo. Nineteenth century full speckled calf by Hatchards, red morocco gilt lettering pieces to spine, gilt turns ins, marbled endpapers; pp. pp [vi] + 98; binding rubbed especially at hinges, very good.
Possible first edition. The Critic was printed five times in 1781, the only difference betrween each printing being the half-title which showed the edition. The half-title of this copy was omitted during re-binding, so we have no way of knowing if this is a true first or one of the early re-prints. Nevertheless, this is a highly attractive copy of Sheridan's highly successful burlesque on the production of a play. If Michael Frayn had written Noises Off about the production of an absurdly overblown historical drama, this might have been the result
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