[Winston, James].

The Theatric Tourist : being a genuine collection of correct views, with brief and authentic historical accounts of all the principal provincial theatres in the United Kingdom: replete with useful and necessary information to theatrical professors, whereby they may learn how to chuse [sic] and regulate their country engagements; and with numerous anecdotes to amuse the reader...

1805. London: T. Woodfall, 1805.

4to, lacks pp. 19-22 and pp. 33-34, with 23 of 24 hand-colored aquatint plates, lacking Brighton (some text leaves watermarked 1801; some plates watermarked 1802), disbound, lacking covers. Recently lightly washed and cleaned, staining and spotting still visible on text and plates but not offensive; preserved in a new blue cloth box. Rubberstamp on title GDF.

§ Only edition, of great rarity. A bookseller's invoice (Batsford, £9-10s) dated 1932 is loosely inserted. Winston's well-researched text and the fine plates make this one of the best guides to the English provincial theatres ever produced. J.R. Abbey noted of his copy: "A Rare Book, Took 20 Years to find, Jan. 1966." Since 1950 4 copies have sold (52,67,91,94): no copy in any condition noted as selling since 1994. Abbey Scenery, 29. Item #125156

Price: $4,500.00