The book or script of a musical refers to the story, character development and dramatic structure, including the spoken dialogue and stage directions, but it can also refer to the dialogue and lyrics together, which are sometimes referred to as the libretto (Italian for “little book“).
Recommended Books
The Poetry of Robert Burns. (1901). 4 Volumes.
£60.00HENLEY, William Ernest; Thomas F. Henderson. The Poetry of Robert Burns. (1901) 4 volume set. Frontispiece to each volume.
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DRINKWATER, John (1882-1937). Oliver Cromwell. (1922) AUTHOR SIGNED to Henry Ainley.
£60.00DRINKWATER, John (1882-1937). Oliver Cromwell. (1922) AUTHOR SIGNED to Henry Ainley. PRESENTATION COPY: Signed and dedicated to the actor “Harry [Henry] Ainley” who was appearing in the show: “Harry Ainley from John Drinkwater give us a good night. Brighton February 19th 1923”. [SELLING WITH] a copy of the theatrical programme from the show- when it was at His Majesty’s Theatre. Henry Ainley (1879-1945) A noted actor, particularly in Shakespeare. Ainley was the father of Anthony Ainley (1932-2004) who played the Master- notorious adversary of the Doctor in Doctor Who.
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BURNS, Robert (1759-96). The Works of Robert Burns. (1843). 2 Volume Set, BINDING.
£160.00BURNS, Robert (1759-96). The Works of Robert Burns; with Dr. Currie’s Memoir of the Poet, and an Essay on his Genius and Character, by Professor Wilson. Also, Numerous Notes, Annotations, and Appendices. Embellished by Eighty-One Portrait and Landscape Illustrations. Two Volume Set (1843).
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Conciones et Orationes Ex Historicis Latinis Excerptae.. [Elzévir- 1672]
£120.00[VARIOUS]. Conciones et Orationes Ex Historicis Latinis Excerptae : Argumenta Singulis Praefixa Sunt, Quae Causam Cujusque & Summam Ex Rei Gestae Occasione Explicant. (1672). PROVENANCE: Previous owner’s signature to rear endpaper dated 1685, and another signature dated 1758. Previous owner in the 17th/18th century (?). has drawn a small doodle in the margin of one of the pages. Please note that the text is in Latin. Elzévir were a family of Dutch booksellers prominent in the 17th and 18th Centuries. The Duodecimo (12mo.) became a popular item of desirable interest.
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The Bards of Angus and The Mearns an Anthology of the Counties. (1897)
£50.00REID, Alan. The Bards of Angus and The Mearns an Anthology of the Counties. 4to. (Size) Paisley; J. and R. Parlane, 1897. PROVENANCE: Lively and interesting marginalia throughout, expressing opinions, family relevance, and comments about the text. Please see photos for book’s condition and for further information.
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Edmond Holmes. Poems Second Series. (1879) Scarce, SIGNED, PRESENTATION COPY
£60.00HOLMES, E.G.A. [Edmond Holmes] (1850-1936). Poems Second Series. 8vo. London: C. Kegan Paul & co., 1879. Contents include: Nature Lost and Found, To My Mistress, On Snowdon, Whence and Whither, On The Yorkshire Coast, To Slieve Croghaun, Sonnets of the Atlantic, On The Moors, Sunset and Sea, Sonnets To An Imaginary Being. PRESENTATION COPY: SIGNED to reverse of front endpaper by the author Edmond Holmes and dedicated to George Chester Earle, inscription dated September 1903. Other owners inscription at top of the same page. Curiously the inscription is made out to George Chester Earle– who research reveals is recorded as a school master living with poet Eleanor Farjeon. Possibly the same George Chester Earle! Edmond Holmes was an educator, poet and schools inspector (1875 to 1910), educated at St. John’s College, Oxford. His many works included: Walt Whitman’s Poetry: A Study & a Selection (1902), The Triumph of Love (1902), and The Tragedy of Education (1913). Scarce book of poetry, signed by the author.
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Manual of German Poetry. (1841). BINDING
£28.00MUHLENFELS, Ludwig Von. (1793-1861). Manual of German Poetry 8vo. London: Henry G. Bohn, 1841. PART 2 (Volume 2) ONLY. I.e. Text begins on pp. 339. PROVENANCE: School Prize label to front pastedown from Wm. Wright MA. to Henry de Parva. School Prize label dated ‘Xmas 1842’. Even though this is just part 2, the work appears to be scarce. Please note the poems are in German.
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SCOTT, Sir Walter (1771-1832). The Lay of The Last Minstrel With Ballads And Lyrical Pieces. (RARE 8TH EDITION RE-ISSUE- 1810).
£200.00SCOTT, Sir Walter (1771-1832). The Lay of The Last Minstrel With Ballads And Lyrical Pieces. (RARE 8TH EDITION RE-ISSUE- 1810). 4to. London: Longman, Hurst, Rees, and Orme, 1810. PROVENANCE: ‘Wm. Blackburn 1818’ (red Morocco label to front-pastedown). A RARE quarto, re-issue of the eighth edition in large paper format, including the scarce ‘Appendix’ section of the rear as part of the pagination.
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Shakesperiana (1827) – BEN IDEN PAYNE’S COPY (ACTOR AND DIRECTOR)
£100.00Shakesperiana. 8vo. John Wilson, 1827. PROVENANCE: Ben Iden Payne (Signature to front endpaper). Ben Iden Payne (1881-1976) was an English actor, director and teacher, whose career spanned 70 years. He was a great advocate for staging Shakespearean plays in the Elizabethan style what he referred to as ‘Modified Elizabethan Staging’. Early professional engagements were with Frank Benson’s Company, directing at the Abbey Theatre in Ireland followed lately. In 1915 he produced the first production of Hobsons Choice, opening on Broadway. Between 1935 and 1943 Payne directed The Stratford Memorial Theatre Festival in Stratford Upon Avon. Scarce.
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The Works of John Milton… [ 2 Volumes]. (1851)
£175.00MILTON, John (1608-1674). The Works of John Milton In Verse and Prose, Printed From Original Editions with a Life of The Author By The Rev. J. Mitford. 2 volumes of poetry (of an original, larger set, which had covered Milton’s prose as well). PROVENANCE – Charles Eamer Kempe- (Victorian Stained Glass Designer).
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ATTENBOROUGH, Frederick (1887-1973). Cities In Sonnets. SIGNED
£50.00ATTENBOROUGH, Frederick (1887-1973). Cities In Sonnets. 8vo. London: S.M. Hall & Son, [1926] SIGNED by Frederick Attenborough on the title page, signature dated: Nov. 1926. Places covered include: Edinburgh, Paris, Rome, Venice, London, and Constantinople. Frederick Attenborough was an English academic, and also Principal of University College, Leicester. He was the father of Sir David, and Sir Richard Attenborough. Scarce.
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The Beauties of Johnson Consisting of Maxims and Observations Moral, Critical, Miscellaneous. 1782.
£150.00JOHNSON, Samuel (1709-1784; [William Cook] The Beauties of Johnson Consisting of Maxims and Observations Moral, Critical, & Miscellaneous, accurately extracted from the works of Dr. Samuel Johnson. 1782.
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ROBB, Frank Mallon. Poems of Adam Lindsay Gordon. 1929. BINDING.
£30.00ROBB, Frank Mallon. Poems of Adam Lindsay Gordon. 8vo. Oxford University Press, 1929. Adam Lindsay Gordon (1833-70) was the first Australian poet to gain considerable recognition overseas. The Gordon Memorial Obelisk was erected on 8th July 1887 in honour of Gordon’s famous leap on horseback over an old post and rail guard fence onto a narrow ledge overlooking the Blue Lake. The daring feat became known as “Gordon’s Leap”. A beautifully bound edition of poetry.
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Poems Written By Mr. William Shakespeare. [1775]
£450.00SHAKESPEARE, William (1564-1616). Poems Written by Mr. William Shakespeare. 8vo. London: Thomas Evans, [1775]. PROVENANCE: Marginalia (hand written notes) in places throughout. An early, scarce, and considered important edition of William Shakespeare’s poems following the arrangement of the 1640 edition of Shakespeare’s Poems, also includes a list of contents. Possibly edited by K. Capell. JAGGARD 435. Scarce.
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A Sunday In London. Illustrated in 14 cuts by George Cruikshank… (1833)
£70.00WIGHT, John; George Cruikshank (Illus). A Sunday In London. Illustrated in 14 cuts by George Cruikshank and a Few Words by a Friend of His… 8vo. London: Effingham Wilsone, 1833. A jaunty, eccentric, and lively account of London life on a Sunday in 1830s Britain. Cruikshank was well known for his social caricatures of English life. His first major work was Pierce Egan’s Life In London (1821).
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The Remains of Henry Kirke White. (1813). FINE BINDING.
£160.00SOUTHEY, Robert (1774-1843). The Remains of Henry Kirke White. 8vo. London: Longman, Hurst, Rees, Orme, Brown, 1813. PROVENANCE: Previous owner’s signature to volume 2 in a possibly contemporary hand. Henry Kirke White (1785-1806) was an English poet and hymn writer. Dying tragically at the age of 21 owing to tuberculosis, Kirke White lived in Wilford, Nottingham, where he drew poetic inspiration. In 1803 he published Clifton Grove, a Sketch in Verse, with other Poems dedicated to Georgina, Duchess of Devonshire. The work was considered controversial and Kirke White was greatly criticised for it. However he had support from the likes of Robert Southey who sent him a letter of encouragement. Southey edited this compilation of his poems and an account of his life. A fine, handsome two volume set in contemporary calf.
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The Plays of Philip Massinger. (1805)
£120.00MASSINGER, Philip (1583-1640) ; W. Gifford. The Plays of Philip Massinger, In Four Volumes With Notes Critical and Explanatory.8vo. London G. And W. Nicol, 1805.
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Original Poems, by John Dryden, Esq. (1756)
£45.00DRYDEN, John (1631-1700). Original Poems, by John Dryden, Esq. 8vo. Glasgow, Rob. & And. Foulis, 1756. Contents include: “A panegyric on the coronation of King Charles II, 1660”, “Britannia Redivivia: A poem written in the year 1688”, “To The Duchess of York, on her return from Scotland in the year 1682”, “Epilogue to the Man of Mode, or, Sir Fopling Flutter”. PROVENANCE: Bookplate of Newport Reference Library to front paste-downs in both volumes, library ink stamps in places throughout. John Dryden (1631-1700) was England’s first poet laureate, defining the Restoration age of English poetry and leading the way for Restoration drama. Unimpressed with the reception that some of his plays achieved, Dryden complained that his theatrical writing talents were wasted on unworthy audiences! Early edition.
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The Emigrant-Ship and Other Poems. (1851). VERY SCARCE.
£50.00Very scarce. SMITH, James Lister. The Emigrant-Ship and Other Poems. 8vo. London: Hope & Co., 1851.
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QUENNELL, Peter. Poems. (1926)
£25.00QUENNELL, Peter. Poems. Interior: Browning to a few pages, sporadic foxing/spotting. Binding: Publisher’s blue quarter cloth with marbled boards (light wear, wear to corners). LIMITED EDITION OF 60 COPIES SIGNED BY PETER QUENNELL OF WHICH THIS IS NUMBER 11. Peter Quennell (1905-93) was the son of authors C.H.B. and Marjorie Quennell. He was an English biographer, literary historian, editor, essayist, poet, and critic. He wrote extensively on social history. 4to. (Size) London: Chatto & Windus, 1926.
![Conciones et Orationes Ex Historicis Latinis Excerptae.. [Elzévir- 1672]](https://nuckleyrarebooks.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/IMG_8475-150x200.jpg)
![The Works of John Milton... [ 2 Volumes]. (1851)](https://nuckleyrarebooks.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/IMG_6040-2-scaled-e1748445680623-150x200.jpg)
![Poems Written By Mr. William Shakespeare. [1775]](https://nuckleyrarebooks.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/IMG_2730-150x200.jpeg)
