An original ink illustration featuring 'Dracula' author Bram Stoker. The central figure is Sir Henry Irving in costume as Mephistopheles in his production of 'Faust' at his Lyceum Theatre, London. Stoker is shown with Irving to the lower left ‘transacting a little business.’ This is a particularly appropriate caption as Irving’s performance of the devil has often been seen as the inspiration for Count Dracula; easy to believe given the costume and make-up depicted here. William Gorman Will’s dark and gothic ‘Faust’ was immensely popular and first ran from December 1885 to 1888. It was revived in 1894. The drawing is not dated. Irving and Stoker worked together for three decades and Stoker was devoted to the actor; however images of them together are virtually unknown. The drawing is by Alfred Bryan, a prolific artist who was held in high esteem by Walter Sickert and other contemporaries. It features a small vignette of the artist in the top right corner: ‘In attendance.’ The ‘portrait of an old friend’ is J.L.Toole, actor manager. The ‘royal visitor’ is of course Edward, Prince of Wales. I have not been able to trace the publication, if any, for the work but Bryan was a regular contributor to many periodicals especially 'Entr’acte' but also 'The London Figaro', 'The Illustrated Sporting and Dramatic News' and 'Judy'.