Chelsea Hospital for Women Shakesperean Show Book

Lacking half of front board, otherwise in very good condition. A special commemorative program and literary album published to support the Chelsea Hospital for Women and sold at a huge 1884 fundraiser held at the Royal Albert Hall in London. Binding square and sound in spite of loss to right hand half of upper, lower corners and spine panel. Light spotting to preliminaries. Text block otherwise unmarked featuring original literary prose, poetry, illustrations (by Walter Crane, John Dinsdale, W. Weekes, F. Goodall, Mrs Houghton and more) and music submitted by prominent artists and writers of the Victorian era plus c.65 pp. of contemporary advertisements to the rear. Laid in is a contemporary Bank Order for donations. Edited by J.S. Wood, the hospital's secretary at the time. Printed by George Falkener & Sons, Art printers. A scarce and most visually appealing piece of Victorian social history.