TWO HISTORIC THEATRE ROYAL PLAYBILLS (Early 1820's).
London: Various, 1921-23.
First Edition. Printed playbills on thin paper, each approximately 8½ × 13 inches. One printed in red and black (The Coronation), the other in black only. Both on fragile period paper with light age toning, small edge chips, and minor creases; overall in relatively good condition for their age being over 200 years old.
An appealing pair of original early nineteenth-century London theatre playbills:
Theatre Royal, Covent Garden – December 20, 1823
Featuring the evening’s performances of Lord of the Manor, The Irish Tutor, and Cent. per Cent. Printed in black only.
Theatre Royal, Drury Lane – December 31, 1821
Advertising The Busy Body, The Coronation (its 92nd time), and A Day after the Wedding. Printed in red and black. The Coronation was a staged theatrical representation of King George IV’s coronation, held on July 19, 1821. The real coronation was a lavish spectacle, costing an estimated £238,000.
These types of historic playbills were printed on fragile, thin paper for single-day use, and few have survived. They provide a vivid glimpse into London’s theatrical and social culture, when royal ceremony and public entertainment often overlapped.
A rare and attractive pair of early 19th-century theatre ephemera, well-preserved.
Item #34215 Price: US$475.00