DRYDEN, John Secret-Love, or the Maiden-Queen

4to., 20th century binding of half brown sheepskin over rust-coloured cloth, spine lettered and dated vertically in gilt; pp. [xiii], 2-66, [ii], containing a preface, two prologues a dramatis personae and an epilogue ‘written by a person of honour’; slight rubbing to leather along backstrip; a couple of spots and creases, light toning in accordance with age, endpapers lightly offset; a very good example, with ‘JD’ in ink to the title page. Provenance: Duncan Grant’s ownership name in pencil to the ffep, dated 6th November 1946. 

The 1669 impression of the First Edition, first acted by the King's Company at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane (which had escaped the Great Fire of London just the year before). More commonly known by its sub-title, the play was a huge success upon opening night, boasting among its audience member King Charles II, his brother the Duke of York and future King James II, and Samuel Pepys, the latter of whom later praised the performance of Nell Gwyn, writing in his diary that "so great performance of a comical part was never, I believe, in the world before...." He returned to see the play eight more times.  In 1672 the play appeared again with a new cast composed entirely of women. 

This copy from the collection of influential American Literature professor Duncan Grant (1921-1969), who taught at Leeds University from 1960-1969. In his research capacity, he produced a series of papers on figures such as Sterne Dryden, Pope and James Thomson.  

SKU: 1800225