Sam Spangles or The History of a Harlequin by Stirling Coyne - 1866

London: George Routledge & Sons, 1866. First thus. A fair copy in color illustrated paper covered boards Front joint cracked and front cover is nearly detached, but holding Spine and edges are scuffed and soiled, but not faded, so illustrations are still clear (see photos) There is a water stain on upper corner of ffep and frontispiece No other marks or damage to text at all

Joseph Stirling Coyne (1803â€"1868) was a humorist and satirist in the tradition of Jonathan Swift and Alexander Pope One of the most prolific British playwrights of the mid-nineteenth century, he wrote more than sixty plays; his twenty-seven farces are surpassed in number only by John Maddison Morton's ninety-one and T J Williams's thirty Coyne brought to the stage accomplished comedic interchanges, puns, irony, exaggerated character traits, ludicrous plot situations, and surprising outcomes His plays reveal a deft ear for dialogue and an ability to create characters suited to the talents of specific actors As a journalist Coyne contributed humorous pieces to many widely circulated journals and newspapers 155 [2 p ads] pp.