Some titles include information about when and where plays were originally performed.

Provenance & Evidence of Readership: In each volume, the ink presentation inscription “W.A. Sanford to E.C.A. Sanford” on the front fly-leaf is followed by an index in the same 19th-century hand. Vol. II also has a typed index.

A full list of the plays is available upon request.

•  See Bergman & Szmuk, Comedias Sueltas; McKnight & Jones, Catalogue of Comedias Sueltas; and Sullivan & Bershas, Comedias Sueltas; Don W. Cruickshank, Don Pedro Calderón.   Early 19th-century vellum over boards with binder's sticker on front pastedown and ink title to spines; spine vellum of vol. I significantly torn. Nearly all of the comedias are trimmed close at the margins, many with loss to signature marks and occasionally a bottom line of text; some age-toning, stains, occasional water damage, and foxing. Where colophons are affected, dates have been supplied using the aforementioned references.  (29317)

In addition to the first title, this sammelband contains seven other comedias sueltas by Calderón de la Barca, in order as follows:  [drop-title] Comedia famosa. El pintor de su deshonra. [colophon: Barcelona: En la Imprenta de Carlos Sapera, 1766]. [18] ff. “Num. 82” in upper right corner of the first page.  [drop-title] Comedia famosa. La exaltacion de la cruz. [colophon: Barcelona: En la Imprenta de Francisco Suriá, 1771]. [18] ff. “Num.76” in upper right corner of the first page.  [drop-title] Comedia famosa. Fuego de Dios en el querer bien. [colophon: Barcelona: Por Francisco Suria y Burgada], no date [ca. 1770]. [18] ff. “Num. 74” in upper right corner of the first page.  [drop-title] Comedia famosa. Auristela y Lisidante. Fiesta que se representó á SS. MM. en el Coliseo del Buen Retiro. [colophon: Barcelona: Por Francisco Suriá y Burgada], no date [ca. 1770]. [22] ff. “Num. 73.” in upper right corner of the first page.  [drop-title] Comedia famosa. El segundo Scipion. Fiesta que se representó á los años del Rey nuestro Señor Don Carlos Segundo. [colophon: Barcelona: Por Francisco Suria y Burgada], no date [ca. 1770]. [20] ff. “Num. 75.” in upper right corner of the first page.  [drop-title] Comedia famosa. La desdicha de la voz. [colophon: Barcelona: Por Francisco Suria y Burgada], no date [ca. 1770]. [22] ff. “Num. 81” in upper right corner of the first page.  [drop-title] Comedia famosa. Darlo todo, y no dar nada. Fiesta, que se representó à SS. MM. en el Salon de su Palacio. [colophon: Barcelona: Por Francisco Suria y Burgada], no date [ca. 1780]. [20] ff. “Num. 80=” in upper right corner of the first page.

Provenance:  Francis H. Bacon (modern bookplate, front pastedown).

•  On the comedias sueltas, see: Bergman & Szmuk, Comedias Sueltas; McKnight & Jones, Catalogue of Comedias Sueltas; Sullivan & Bershas, Comedias Sueltas. On Calderon, see: Don W. Cruickshank, Pedro Calderón de la Barca (1973).   Brown calf triple-ruled in gilt and stamped in a blind fern pattern along the border (joints splitting); spine gilt with “Comedias de Calderon,” “Tom. IX.,” and “Madrid 1726" in three of seven compartments otherwise containing gilt fleurons within a blind-stamped flower pattern; gilt turn-ins and marbled endpapers in a stone pattern and matching marbled edges. Front flyleaf detached. Occasional spots and dampstaining, a few natural paper flaws and a few negligible wormholes; age-toning, heavier in some comedias than others. Trimmed close shaving some headlines and catchwords, butoverall nice.  (29852)

A mixed set in mixed bindings: all volumes except 11 are first editions, the exception being a 1966 reprint. Many original wrappers bound in. Volumes 1–10 in early quarter cloth, 11–42 in modern full cloth.

•  Griffin, Latin America: A guide to the historical literature, 2063; Palau 56442.   Bindings as above: Vols. 1–10 with abrasion/discoloration to spines, otherwise minor wear; moderate foxing, and some early annotations. Vols. 11–42, cloth bright; mostly clean internally, last 2 pages of last volume supplied in facsimile. Vol. 38 lacking fascicles 3, 4, 5, and 6.  (25828)

This offering contains original documents touching on many of these and other matters. Do note, please, that this collection is being SOLD AS A COLLECTION ONLY, with no extractions or mixing and matching such as are offered elsewhere on this page.

•  Final three issues stapled together. All very good.  (6586)

These theatrical ephemera are quite scarce: While 19th-century examples are fairly common, a check of ESTC found only a few scattered instances of 18th-century Theatre-Royal playbills, none with more than one holding.

•  "Mini-collections" of these playbills can be invoiced at the “collection” rates of:  Five items, 10% off; ten items, 15% off; ALL items, 20% off.  Shipping FREE on these gatherings.

Typically, pleadings such as these were printed to the minimal standards of "job printing," but most present here have interesting woodcut initials, some historiated, and among them they are decorated with an interesting array of type-ornaments; eight are begun with a good-size woodcut or engraving of the Virgin, the Virgin and Child, or the Crucifixion, typically unsigned. Usually there is no indication of where the item was printed, and dates must be inferred from the contents or from the watermark of the paper.

Such Spanish documents as these are rare in non-Spanish libraries.

•    All documents are removed from bound volumes, but, unless otherwise noted, are still sewn. They are in good, usable condition, and are unfoxed, with exceptions to these rules noted in the complete listing of the collection—available upon request. Do note, please, that this collection is being SOLD AS A COLLECTION ONLY, with no extractions or mixing and matching such as are offered elsewhere on this page.

A good research collection. 

•  All items are in good to very good condition, disbound, a few with library markings (stamps) but a few only. The strange glossy effect in our “group photo” is the pamphlets' archival mylar folders, reflecting light — nothing worse, and nothing stranger! You can CLICK HERE for a list.  Do note, please, that this collection is being SOLD AS A COLLECTION ONLY, with no extractions or mixing and matching such as are offered elsewhere on this page.

•  PLEASE NOTE that most of the “SESSABKS” PDF catalogues offermaterials amenable to multi-book COLLECTION PURCHASES and that those multi-book purchases may be eligible for invoicing with suitable “collection discounts”; collection discount terms, where offered, are generally published on the catalogue's last page. But even if not, ENQUIRE when you've built a stack of (say) ten or more items!