The Life of an Actor. Dedicated to Edmund Kean, Esq. The Poetical Descriptions by T. Greenwood. Embellished with Twenty-seven Characteristic Scenes, etched by Theodore Lane; Enriched also with Several Original Designs on Wood, executed by Mr. Thompson - Pierce Egan, T. Greenwood, Theodore Lane (illustrator) 1825 - Printed for C.S. Arnold, London - First Edition A finely bound example of Pierce Egan’s wonderful and amusing novel centred around Peregrine Proteus, and his various highs and lows attempting to pursue a career on the stage. Dedicated to Edmund Kean (1789-1833) the greatest of English tragic actors, a turbulent genius noted as much for his megalomania and ungovernable behaviour as for his portrayals of villains in Shakespearean plays.

Illustrated with twenty-seven hand-coloured aquatint plates by Theodore Lane and nine woodcut engravings by John Thompson (1785-1866).
  Provenance: From the library of Major-General Sir Harold Augustus Wernher, 3rd Baronet (1893-1973) with his rather theatrical engraved armourial book plate.

References: Abbey,
Life, 414. Tooley, English Books with Coloured Plates 1790 to 1860 (1954), 195. Prideaux 308.

Royal octavo (binding size 24.9x16.3cm), pp. [4] xvi 272 [4].
  Bound by Morrell of London in full crushed morocco, spine with raised bands intricately tooled in gilt with acting motifs and lettering, panels bordered in triple gilt fillets, edges ruled in gilt, gilt inner-dentelles bordering marbled endpapers, all edges gilt.   Condition: Fine in near fine binding with light wear to spine and some darkening to boards.   Ref: 110214   Price: HK$ 15,000