Memoirs of Joseph Shepherd Munden, Comedian. By his son.

London: Richard Bentley. 1844.

First edition. 8vo. 200x120mm. pp. [4], 330. Bound by Zaehnsdorf in red half morocco, marbled paper covered boards. Spine with five raised bands, compartments lavishly decorated in gilt, second compartment lettered in gilt. Top edge gilt. Marbled endpapers. Some rubbing and wear to edges and corners and scratches to the boards. Internally very good but with some foxing and toning. Frontispiece portrait of Munden has part of the margin missing but this does not affect the image. Front pastedown has bookplate of Lucius Poole, Boston whose celebrated "Dramatic Collection" was sold over two days in April 1905. Blank preliminary page has gift inscription "To Louise Hurlbut Mason from her loving father Edward J. Mason. Christmas 1907". Louise Mason corresponded extensively with the theatrical figures of her day and her papers are held at the University of Washington. A nice copy of Munden's memoirs with a very good American provenance.
Joseph Munden (1758-1832) was an actor-manager who specialised in comedy. His range has been described as "limited but within that range he was versatile": he played over two hundred roles (these are listed at the back of the book). His early years were spent as a touring actor but his career took off when he came to London in 1790 and made his base at the Covent Garden Theatre. It was here that he acquired his reputation as the finest comedian of his day. Not averse to an argument and unwise with his money - he had a "pathological refusal" to spend it - his final years were unhappy. Not unlike many of the best comedians, in fact.