Eric Chaim Kline, Bookseller

The Jew: A Comedy. Performed at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane [WITH] "The Jew" and "The Adopted Child" [BROADSIDE POSTER]

Cumberland, Richard

London: 1795/ 1797. 1) The Jew: A Comedy. Performed at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane. Printed for C. Dilly, in the Poultry. 1797. Sixth edition. 8vo. 64, [2]pp. Modern three-quarter calf over marbled boards with gold lettered red title-label. English dramatist Richard Cumberland wrote "The Jew" in 1794, attempting to reverse the image of the Jew created by Shakespeare in "The Merchant of Venice" almost 200 years earlier. (Critics today still argue over Shakespeare's play's stance on anti-Semitism). "In the person of Sheva, Cumberland brought a new kind of Jew to the English stage. Sheva, like Shylock, is a usurer, hustled and insulted by the gentlemen of the town as "the meerest muckworm in the city of London." But by the end of the play the audience is made to realize that not one of the unflattering epithets really applies to him, and he is acclaimed as "the widow's friend, the orphan's father, the poor man's protector, the universal philanthropist." (Encyclopaedia Judaica). Minor rubbing to title-label. Heavy age toning (Offsetting) on front and rear endpapers. Usual rippling to leaves. Light sporadic foxing throughout. Signature of previous owner and "London 758" handwritten on front endpaper. Binding in near fine, interior in very good condition. Hardcover.

[WITH]

2) "The Jew" and "The Adopted Child" [BROADSIDE POSTER]. London: Printed by C. Lowndes, 1795. 12.5 x 8". Single-sided printed broadside sheet with black lettering. An extremely scarce advertisement for a performance by the theater company known as "Their Majesties Servants", taking place at the Drury Lane (Theater-Royal) on Friday May 1st, 1795. The performance included a presentation of Richard Cumberland's popular comedic play "The Jew", followed by a solo musical performance from acclaimed English composer and opera singer Thomas Welsh (aka "Master Welsh", c.1780-1848) and concluding with the premiere performance of Samuel Birch's (1757–1841) two-act musical drama "The Adopted Child" (also including Welsh). The poster lists the program of the performance and the cast involved. Address and ticketing information at the bottom of the text. Minor rubbing and a few small closed tears to extremities. A few folding creases. In overall very good condition. Protected by modern mylar. vg. Broadside. vg. Item #31879

* Samuel Birch (1757-1841) was an English politican who is best known for having served as Lord Mayor of London in 1814. Is interesting to note that in addition to his political activities and local governmental duties, he was also a dramatist, and originally started out as a pastry chef. Bibliographic reference:

This is the sixth edition of Roth, B19 #26 (p.403).

Price: $750.00