The Life and Correspondence of Charles Matthews... Mrs. Matthews — New Edition

£60.10

The Life and Correspondence of Charles Matthews... Mrs. Matthews — New Edition

Name: The Life and Correspondence of Charles Matthews... Mrs. Matthews — New Edition
Brand: Broadhursts Books
SKU: 4378
Price: 60.10 GBP
Availability: InStock

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Publication: London, Routledge, Warne, and Routledge, 1860.

Formatting: 8vo, pp. [xvi], 480.

Condition Report: Good. The publisher's original blind-stamped red cloth binding remains sound and largely secure, though it exhibits obvious cosmetic wear commensurate with its mid-nineteenth-century origins, justifying the average grade. The spine is notably sunned, rendering the gilt titling dull, and there is evident surface rubbing alongside minor fraying and a tiny split at the head of the spine cloth. The boards show general rubbing, moderate edge wear, and slightly bumped corners. Internally, the text block is pleasingly firm; the pages remain mostly clean and bright, exhibiting only scattered, sporadic foxing that is primarily confined to the preliminaries and the frontispiece portrait.

Catalogue Note: This "New Edition" presents a thoughtfully condensed, single-volume iteration of the original four-volume memoir, aiming to provide a more accessible and fast-paced narrative while retaining Mathews's own graphic autobiographical writings. The editorial duties were undertaken by Edmund Yates, a prominent Victorian novelist and playwright, whose appreciation for theatrical history breathes fresh life into the text.

The volume is notably enhanced by a finely engraved frontispiece portrait of Charles Mathews. While modern print-on-demand copies currently saturate the market, securing the authentic nineteenth-century release in its original publisher's cloth binding remains a surprisingly uncommon feat for dedicated collectors of theatrical history. This copy is cleanly presented and free from distracting historical ownership inscriptions.

Charles Mathews the Elder (1776–1835) was one of the most celebrated and innovative figures of the early nineteenth-century British stage, universally renowned for his one-man shows, "At Homes," and extraordinary powers of mimicry. Originally compiled by his second wife, Anne Jackson Mathews, this intimate biography traces his dramatic life from his early provincial struggles to his crowning successes in London and America. It stands as a vibrant tapestry of Regency theatrical history, offering firsthand accounts of his trials, triumphs, and entertaining encounters with the leading literary and dramatic luminaries of his era.

Book Condition: Good

Book Authors: Mrs. Mathews (Edited by Edmund Yates)

Book Publisher: Routledge, Warne, and Routledge

Book Language: English

Narrative Type: Non-Fiction

Genre: Autobiography, Biography & Memoirs

Book edition:

Signed: No

Book Pages: 480

Book Publication Year: 1860

Book Publication Date:

Book Binding: Hardcover (Publisher's Original Cloth)

Illustrator: N/A

Book Series: N/A

Country/region of manufacture: London, United Kingdom

Book Dimensions:

Book Condition Guide

We stock thousands of books in a wide range of conditions. To make things clear and to help you know exactly what to expect, Please refer to these condition categories to understand the condition of the book you will receive.

Condition	Description
New	A brand-new, unread and professionally handled book. Carefully preserved from publication to purchase, these books are offered in the best attainable condition. This grade applies to recently published titles that have not entered long-term storage.
As New	The book is in pristine, original condition as if just published. No signs of use or handling. The dust jacket (if present) is equally flawless. This grade applies to any book that has remained untouched in storage for years.
Fine	The book is close to As New. It remains bright and attractive, but could show minor imperfections to the boards and/or dust jacket (if present). Its pages are typically clean and unmarked.
Near Fine	The book has a number of small flaws, i.e. slight rubbing to the edges, or tiny chips or creases to the dust jacket (if present). Its pages may have faint marks, or creases that are barely perceptible — nothing that detracts from their overall condition.
Very Good	The book maintains its structural integrity, and has no major flaws such as tears to its binding or pages. It may, however, show signs of careful use, handling, or storage — small marks and creases, light foxing. Its dust jacket (if present) remains fully intact, but small tears may be present.
Good	A book that remains intact and readable with complete text pages, but shows moderate signs of wear and use to both the book and dust jacket (if present). It may have noticeable creases, nicks, or stains, and the spine likely shows fading, bumping, and rubbing. There could be writing, underlining, and other marks on some pages, though the majority will be clean and tidy.
Fair	A book with significant wear or damage. The text pages will be complete, but there may be heavy underlining, highlighting and staining throughout, and the book’s endpapers, half-title, and copyright pages could be damaged or missing. The binding could be loose, and the dust jacket (if present) may have notable scuffs or tears. These copies are usually of interest for content, signature(s) or scarcity.
Poor	A heavily worn book whose value lies in its complete and legible text. A poor book will have substantial defects — loose joints or hinges, detached covers, loose and/or missing pages, and could be heavily soiled. A poor book is also known as a reading copy, and although compromised, can hold historical or bibliographic significance.