The dramatic mirror: containing the history of the stage, from the earliest period to the present time : including a biographical and critical account of all the dramatic writers, from 1600; and also of the most distinguished performers, from the days of Shakspeare to 1807: and a history of the country theatres, in England, Ireland, and Scotland. Embellished with seventeen elegant engravings

London: Printed for C. Chapple, Pall Mall, by B. McMillan, Bow Street, Covent Garden, Printer to His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales, 1808. Paper-covered boards. Fine. First Edition of this scarce history, a "biographical and critical account of all dramatic writers from 1660 and also of the most distinguished performers from the days of Shakespeare to 1807, and a history of the country theatres." Complete in two volumes, paginated (somewhat irregularly) continuously. 12mo (173 x 101mm): xii, 622, 629-630; [3], 625-1048pp, with 17 engraved plates, comprising interior views of the three Theatres Royal and one of the exterior of the King's Theatre, Haymaket, as well as portraits of the author and leading actors and actresses. Recently rebound to style in pale blue paper-covered boards with cream-colored spines and title and volume printed paper lettering pieces; all edges speckled red. Internally, virtually pristine, the bindings tight, straight and square, the pages and plates clean and crisp (author's portrait in vol. I lightly spotted). A superb example of this rare set. OCLC Number: 82435547. Allen A. Brown Collection, p. 253. Little is known of Gilliland's life or career. His major work, A Dramatic Synopsis, was significantly expanded and republished as The Dramatic Mirror, dated 1808 on the title-page, "but [it] may have appeared in 1807. . . . It was dedicated to the Prince of Wales [later George IV], and was venomously reviewed in The Satirist of January 1808. The reviewer's charges included plagiarism (‘The original matter ... would lay in as small a space as its author's brains') and inconsistency, since Gilliland now praised Kemble [whom he had earlier lambasted]." (ODNB) N. B. With few exceptions (always identified), we only stock books in exceptional condition. All orders are packaged with care and posted promptly. Satisfaction guaranteed. (Fine Editions Ltd is a member of the Independent Online Booksellers Association, and we subscribe to its codes of ethics.).