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72 Samuel Gedge Ltd
FAN SHOWING SHAKESPEARE’S SEVEN AGES
100. [SHAKESPEARE.] Shakespeare’s seven ages.
[London.] Publish’d 1 st Jany. 1796 by Sarah Ashton, No. 28, Little Britain. Engraved fan. Stick length 24cm. Seven
stipple-engraved ovals on yellow ground, each with caption, original ivory sticks with metal hoop, light wear to extremities,
very good.
This scarce stipple-engraved fan illustrating the theme of Shakespeare’s seven ages of man was produced in
London in 1796 by Sarah Ashton. Admitted a member of the Worshipful Company of Fan Makers 1 February
1770, Ashton was one of the few female fan makers at work in London at the end of the eighteenth century.
The text from the famous monologue in Shakespeare’s play As you like it that begins “all the world’s a
stage …” is here engraved under images of the seven ages spanning infant to old man. Note: this item is not
offered for sale to customers outside of the European Union.
Schreiber Collection 157. £1250
MRS JORDAN AS JULIET
101. [SHAKESPEARE.] For the benefit of Mrs. Jordan. Theatre
Royal, Drury Lane, this present Monday April 25, 1796. Their
Majesties servants will act a tragedy called Romeo and Juliet …
[London.] Printed by C. Lowndes next the Stage Door.[1796.] Playbill. Large 4to
(18 x 25cm) uncut, very good.
This playbill advertises a production of Romeo and Juliet staged at Drury
Lane 25 April 1796 for the benefit of the leading actress Dorothy Jordan
(1761-1816), then mistress of Prince William Henry, Duke of Clarence
(later William IV). The advertisement notes that this was the “first time”,
and “for that night only” that she was occupying the role. Various details
of the production are listed also: “in act II. a masquerade scene. End of act
IV. a funeral procession to the monument of the Capulets with a dirge
composed by Mr. Linley …” William Barrymore played the part of
Romeo, with Charles Kemble (1775-1854) as Paris. Rare.
Not in ESTC. £350