Huge antique theatre poster / playbill, Theatre Royal Haymarket, from around 1855-1860 featuring "A New and Original Comedy by Mr W.S. Gilbert" (of Gilbert and Sullivan fame), and Amy Sedgwick in the Comic Drama, One Good Turn Deserves Another.
Sir William Schwenck Gilbert (1836-1922) was an English dramatist, librettist and poet, best known for his collaboratin with Arthur Sullivan, which produced the 14 Gilbert & Sullivan comic operas which are still in production today. These operas were supported by the repertory company that Gilbert, Sullivan and Richard D'Oyly Carte founded. Gilbert's creative output also included 75 plays - of which one is being advertised on this playbill.
Amy Sedgwick, or Sarah Gardiner (the name she was born with) - 1835-1897 was a British actress born in Bristol whose early appearances were in Bristol and provinces before she hit the London stage at the Haymarket Theatre in 1857. (This is a play not listed in her Wiki page online.).
This playbill also features John Buckstone in Sheridan's The Rivals. John Baldwin Buckstone - 1802-1879 was an English actor, playwright and comedian who wrote 150 plays. He started as a comic actor during much of his career at The Adelphi Theatre in London and the Haymarket - which he went on to manage between 1853-1877.
This playbill / poster measures 20" tall by 9" wide (50 cm x 23m).
Single horizontal fold as originally found and will be posted as such. Edgeworn to bottom blank margin with minor losses and a tear to upper left margin with a further tiny loss to blank margin.
Definitely from between 1853- around 1860.
On tissue-thin, flmsy, white paper with black titling.
Extremely scarce and a remarkable survivor - nearly 200 years old.
An early Victorian Playbill featuring a play by W.S. Gilbert and two, named Victorian actors who had significant careers on the stage is a rare find.
These flimsy, antique theatre playbills are nearly impossible to find today outside major collections and will only appreciate in value. A rare survivor, since on such flimsy papaer that few will have survived.
£15 + Postage £3.70 UK (proof of postage, no tracking), £13.50 Europe, £21.85 USA/world - tracked abroad. I will combine postage if you buy more than one item.