Life of Mrs. Siddons

London: Edward Moxon, 1839. First edition. leather_bound. Contemporary full green niger, spine venly faded to brown, bound by Hardy. All edges gilt. Fine. Extra illustrated with numerous inserted engravings. Mrs. Siddons, the sister of John Kemble, the actor was a force on the English stage in her own right, "and probably the one great tragedy queen that Britain ever produced. She first attracted attention in the part of Belvidera in Otway's `Venice Preserv'd', and was subsequently famous in her impersonation of Lady Macbeth and other Shakespearean characters." [see: OXFORD COMPANION TO ENGLISH LITERATURE, p.753]. Binding with covers ruled in gilt, raised bands decorated in gilt, elaborate scroll work and centerpieces in compartments, inner dentelles in sunburst pattern, marbled endpapers. Armorial bookplate of Sidney Kirkman.