May 1, 2024 10:00 EST
Rare Books, Autographs & Maps
8
Killigrew's Comedies and Tragedies
KILLIGREW, THOMAS
Comedies and Tragedies. bound with The Prisoners. London: Printed [by John Macock] for Henry Herringman, 1664 (and T. Crooke, 1664 for the first title of the Prisoners). First edition, first issue (with the titles to the separate plays all dated 1663), a regular paper copy. Full brown armorial calf by Charles Lewis, with his stamp, the Brownlow arms on the front cover; housed in a fine but misfitting pull-off morocco case. 11 1/4 x 7 3/8 inches (28.5 x 19 cm); 576, [2]; 80 pp.; [-]1 •2 a-4C4; π2 (lacking π1, presumed blank), a-k 4; with the fine engraved portrait by Faithorne after Sheppard of the author at his desk, with his faithful dog in the foreground, and a portrait of King Charles II in the background, the second state of this frontispiece (as the Pforzheimer copy). Minor binding wear and scuffing, within some toning and spotting to the text. With the bookplate of Belton House, the residence of the Brownlows, whose arms are on the covers.; the book label of Charles and Virginia Baldwin; and the bookplate of Christopher Rowe.
As with the Pforzheimer example, this copy is bound with Killigrew's plays Claricilla and The Prisoners located after 4C4. Pforzheimer discusses the publication history of these in some detail. Unlike the Pforzheimer copy (at least, based on the provided collation), this copy has an initial separate title for The Prisoners. This leaf, [π1] in the collation above, is dated 1664, and bears Andrew Crook's imprint, as do the section titles dated 1663 for Claricilla and The Prisoners.
Killigrew was a theatre manager and playwright in the Restoration period of Charles II, who built a playhouse on the site of what is now the Drury Lane Theater in London. A dissolute cavalier figure at court, he began his theatrical career as a child, working as an extra player at the Red Bull Theatre in exchange for free admission. He was a Page of Honour to Charles I and a Groom of the Bed-Chamber to Charles II. In his Diary, Samuel Pepys noted in his diaries, on 17 February 1669, "Among the rest of the King's company, there was that worthy fellow my lord of Rochester, and Tom Killigrew, whose mirth and raillery offended the former so much, that he did give Tom Killigrew a box on the ear in the King's presence, which do much give offence to the people here at Court, to see how cheap the King makes himself." (https://www.pepysdiary.com/diary/1669/02/17/). Wing K-450; Pforzheimer 571; ESTC R7715; Greg p.1085-6 etc.
Sold for $1,280
Estimated at $600 - $800
Includes Buyer's Premium
KILLIGREW, THOMAS
Comedies and Tragedies. bound with The Prisoners. London: Printed [by John Macock] for Henry Herringman, 1664 (and T. Crooke, 1664 for the first title of the Prisoners). First edition, first issue (with the titles to the separate plays all dated 1663), a regular paper copy. Full brown armorial calf by Charles Lewis, with his stamp, the Brownlow arms on the front cover; housed in a fine but misfitting pull-off morocco case. 11 1/4 x 7 3/8 inches (28.5 x 19 cm); 576, [2]; 80 pp.; [-]1 •2 a-4C4; π2 (lacking π1, presumed blank), a-k 4; with the fine engraved portrait by Faithorne after Sheppard of the author at his desk, with his faithful dog in the foreground, and a portrait of King Charles II in the background, the second state of this frontispiece (as the Pforzheimer copy). Minor binding wear and scuffing, within some toning and spotting to the text. With the bookplate of Belton House, the residence of the Brownlows, whose arms are on the covers.; the book label of Charles and Virginia Baldwin; and the bookplate of Christopher Rowe.
As with the Pforzheimer example, this copy is bound with Killigrew's plays Claricilla and The Prisoners located after 4C4. Pforzheimer discusses the publication history of these in some detail. Unlike the Pforzheimer copy (at least, based on the provided collation), this copy has an initial separate title for The Prisoners. This leaf, [π1] in the collation above, is dated 1664, and bears Andrew Crook's imprint, as do the section titles dated 1663 for Claricilla and The Prisoners.
Killigrew was a theatre manager and playwright in the Restoration period of Charles II, who built a playhouse on the site of what is now the Drury Lane Theater in London. A dissolute cavalier figure at court, he began his theatrical career as a child, working as an extra player at the Red Bull Theatre in exchange for free admission. He was a Page of Honour to Charles I and a Groom of the Bed-Chamber to Charles II. In his Diary, Samuel Pepys noted in his diaries, on 17 February 1669, "Among the rest of the King's company, there was that worthy fellow my lord of Rochester, and Tom Killigrew, whose mirth and raillery offended the former so much, that he did give Tom Killigrew a box on the ear in the King's presence, which do much give offence to the people here at Court, to see how cheap the King makes himself." (https://www.pepysdiary.com/diary/1669/02/17/). Wing K-450; Pforzheimer 571; ESTC R7715; Greg p.1085-6 etc.
Auction: Rare Books, Autographs & Maps, May 1, 2024
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Auction of Rare Books, Autographs & Maps on May 1, 2024 Totals $1.2 Million
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A Medieval Manuscript Rules of St. Augustine Achieves $102k
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Consignments Are Currently Being Accepted for Future Auctions
NEW YORK, NY -- Competitive bidding at Doyle’s May 1, 2024 auction of Rare Books, Autographs & Maps drove strong prices and a sale total that topped $1.2 million, surpassing expectations.
Featured in the sale was a fascinating selection of early manuscripts that achieved exceptional results. Highlighting the group was a 14th century manuscript of the Rules of St. Augustine from an English priory that soared over its $8,000-12,000 estimate to realize a stunning $102,100. The Rule of St. Augustine is among the earliest of all monastic rules, created about 400, and it was an influence on all that succeeded it. Other notable results included a 14th century Etymologiae of St. Isidore estimated at $5,000-8,000 that achieved $51,200 and a 15th century Prayer Book of Jehan Bernachier estimated at $10,000-15,000 that sold for $28,800.
A first edition of John James Audubon's octavo Birds of America sold for $41,600, far over its $25,000-35,000 estimate. Published in 1840-1844 in seven volumes, the first octavo edition was the final Birds of America publication overseen by Audubon in his lifetime.
The Fred Rotondaro Collection offered rare books and manuscripts on a range of subjects touching the African American experience in the United States over three centuries. A first edition copy of Frederick Douglass’ 1876 speech at the unveiling of the Freedman's Monument in Washington realized $12,800, far exceeding its $3,000-5,000 estimate. A first edition of the first issue of Harriet Beecher Stowe’s Uncle Tom’s Cabin from 1852 also achieved $12,800.
Highlighting the range of offerings from the Ken Harte Collection of Natural History was a first edition Richard Bowdler Sharpe’s beautifully illustrated monograph of Kingfishers, 1868-71, that sold for $14,080, doubling its $6,000-8,000 estimate. It was accompanied by an inscribed copy of the rare unfinished chapter on the anatomy of the kingfisher by James Murie.
We Invite You to Auction!
Consignments are currently being accepted for future auctions. We invite you to contact us for a complimentary auction evaluation. Our Specialists are always available to discuss the sale of a single item or an entire collection.
For information, please contact Peter Costanzo at 212-427-4141 ext 248, Edward Ripley-Duggan at ext 234, or Noah Goldrach at ext 226, or email Books@Doyle.com
