2 Complete Sets of Books on British Theatre Comprising 40 Volumes Dated 1797 & 1806

John Bell’s (1745-1831) British Theatre consisting of the most esteemed of English plays was first published in 1776-1778 in 20 volumes and comprised 140 plays. George Cawthorn acquired the rights to this work following a lawsuit in 1795-1796 and subsequently published this 34 volume set, still containing 140 plays, in 1797. The very similarly bound 1st edition 6 volume companion set Cawthorn’s Minor British Theatre, comprising of the most esteemed farces and operas, contains 30 works and was published by George’s son, John Cawthorn in 1806.

All 40 volumes are very similarly bound in attractive contemporary full tree calf bindings with gilt decorated boards, spines and title labels. The end papers and page edges are marbled. Each volume of Bell's contains either 4 or 5 works and each work has a full-page plate representing a scene from the play and a frontispiece of an actor in a leading part although some are untitled. Most of the plays are preceded by biographical sketches of the authors, criticism of the play, etc. and dramatis personae, giving the names of the players and the parts they played. Caw-thorn's set also have a frontispiece of an actor but no other illustrations. The bindings are all tightly bound, intact and well presented with only minor bumping although there is some loss to the gilding and some variation in the sunning/rubbing to the spines. The back board of Volume 2 of Bell's, however, has an area of leather missing adjacent to the spine (see photo). Internally there is some age toning, the plates and adjoining pages are foxed and there is sporadic light foxing to the pages elsewhere with some areas of heavy foxing in a handful of volumes.

These two associated sets are rarely offered together and unusually here they are very similarly bound.

Each book has a height of some 14.7cm, depth of 9.5cm and the 40 volumes combined have a shelf coverage of approximately 110cms. The total unpackaged weight is around 11.25kgs.

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