Catalogue of a Valuable and Interesting Collection of Books Formed by a Prominent American Playwright, Consisting of an Unusually Choice and Desirable Assemblage of Books Relating to the Drama, Shakespeariana, History of the English and American Stage....

New York: G A Leavitt & Co., Auctioneers, [1878]. First Edition. Contemporary three quarter leather & marbled bds. - bound by Blackwell. Original printed wrappers in place.. Near fine.. 8vo, viii, 201pp. + frontispiece portrait. Each lot priced and identified throughout.

The first of five of Daly sales that took place prior to WWI. This first part composed of many items relating to theater history and original plays benefits from the fact that it contains a manuscript record of the price and purchaser for all 1117 lots. One can therefore trace the origin of some of the Havemeyer sale items in 1914 as well as Stone, Morton, Young, Grey, Bond, King, Willis, Bentley etc. Daly himself was an accomplished playwright and director whose career reads like something of dream come true in the New York theater. Along the way he amassed an enormous library that was "lost" and renewed several times in his life. DAB V, 42 - 45; McKay #2416.