Queen Mary: A Drama.

TENNYSON, Alfred Lord.

$3,250.00

Item Number: 95173

London: Henry S. King and Co, 1875.

First edition, first issue of the first book in Tennyson’s historical trilogy with “behled” on page 126. Small octavo, bound in full red morocco, gilt titles to the spine, elaborate gilt tooling to the spine and panels, double gilt ruled, all edges gilt, marbled endpapers. Association copy, signed by Alfred Tennyson on the title page with Ellen Terry’s inscription below, “From her loving Ellen Terry” and below that “Her old friend, Henry Irving.” The recipient, Sir Henry Irving performed in and produced the the first production of Queen Mary at the Lyceum Theatre in April of 1876. The book was likely giving from Tennyson to Irving, and later from Irving and Terry to a female recipient. Henry Irving’s bookplate to the pastedown. In good condition. Rare and desirable signed by Tennyson.

Regarded as the chief representative of the Victorian age of poetry, English poet and dramatist, Alfred Lord Tennyson succeeded William Wordsworth as Poet Laureate in 1850. In addition to his major works of poetry, Tennyson wrote several plays, among them his dramas Queen Mary, Harold, The Cup, and The Falcon. Heavily influenced by the strictly metered and often melancholic style of the English Romantic poets, Tennyson’s verse illustrated a mastery of rhythm and descriptive imagery drawing on both the poetic structure and content of classical myths and medieval legends.