THE RIVALS, A COMEDY

London: Printed for John Wilkie, 1775. FIRST EDITION (with catchword "EPI-" on page 100). 212 x 126 mm. (8 1/4 x 5"). x, [4], 100 pp., [1] leaf (Epilogue).
Pleasing 19th century polished calf, French fillet border, very neatly rebacked preserving the original backstrip, raised bands, two black morocco labels with gilt titling, other compartments with gilt floral tooling, all edges gilt. From the collection of noted theatrical scholar William Appleton. Front free endpaper with old catalogue description pasted down; a few later pencil notations on rear endpaper. ESTC T45136. ◆Joints a little worn and flaked (but covers firmly attached and entirely secure), a little crackling, small chips, and slight darkening around edges of calf and to the original backstrip, corners worn to boards, extremities slightly rubbed, but the binding still quite attractive and the contents very fine, with just a little occasional offsetting, and otherwise entirely clean and fresh throughout.

This is an excellent copy of Sheridan's anti-sentimental comedy of manners, one of the most important and enduring British plays produced in the 18th century. It is one of the last enunciations of the code of aristocratic neoclassicism, where the eccentrics and boors are laughed away, and the idea of a reasoned serenity based on good judgment and good taste is embraced. It is also extremely funny, particularly in the depiction of Bob Acres and the immortalized Mrs. Malaprop. After a brilliant career as playwright and theatrical manager at Drury Lane, Sheridan (1751-1816) occupied a major place in the political landscape of the day in Parliament and later as Undersecretary of State and Secretary of the Treasury. Day tells us that he "was an intimate of the Prince of Wales, even composing the love letters dispatched by his royal highness." Though the present work contains no bookplate, we know this item comes from the collection of William Appleton (1915-2014). A scholar of early English theater, Appleton taught at Columbia University for over 30 years and authored several books on the subject..