INSCRIBED BY CHARLES KEAN - Shakespeare’s Tragedy of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark, Arranged for Representation at The Princess’s Theatre, with Explanatory Notes.... as Performed on Monday, January 10th, 1850.

Kean has inscribed the play to his ‘attached friend’, Mrs Heath, mentioning that he presented this playscript on his birthday - 18th January. Mrs Heath seems likely to have been the widowed mother of Caroline Heath, (Mrs Caroline Heath), a young member of Kean’s company who played many major Shakespearian roles, and in this production of Hamlet appeared opposite Charles Kean himself in the role of Ophelia, as recorded in the printed dramatis personae.

An excellent association copy of the play which Kean altered significantly as well as adding extensive historical notes.

DESCRIPTION: Large octavo (21x13.5cm), bound in printed thick paper wrappers, toned and spotted but an unusual survival thus. Kean has inscribed the title page: ‘To Mrs Heath from her attached friend Charles Kean. Presented on C.K.’s birthday 18 Jan,y 1859.’. Spotting to the text preliminaries and edges of the text block. Collates complete: vi, pp7-110 [2]. Stab sewn, clean text.