Lot 102: CONGREVE, WILLIAM.

The Double-Dealer, A Comedy. for Jacob Tonson, 1694

4to, first edition, first issue, G1 in original uncancelled state, half brown morocco, cloth covers, occasional spotting, annotation to margin of A2, short tear to foot of G1

Wing C5847; Macdonald 31; Pforzheimer 194; The London Stage, I, p.428.

George Thorn-Drury, pencil annotation on provenance by John Brett-Smith (and presumably either lot 183 or 184 in the Thorn-Drury sale at Sotheby's, 11 May 1931)

Congreve's comedy The Double Dealer was first presented at Drury Lane, with music by Purcell, probably in late October or November 1693, successfully running for eight performances.

The cancelland in the first edition was later replaced by a corrected state for Lady Froth's speech on page 42. The un-cancelled state is rare. Macdonald notes "in most copies G1 is a cancel".