Book Description

FIRST AND ONLY EDITION. 1 vol., 8-3/8" x 5-1/2", 36pp., complete, bound in early green paper wrappers.
Dealer Notes
Scarce, only 2 other copies have ever shown up at auction.

Within a year after "The Vampyre" was published, the Vampyre Ruthven became hugely popular throughout western Europe. By June of 1819, he was already onstage at the Theatre de la Porte-Saint-Martin (Paris) in a melodrama called "Le Vampire", written by Charles Nodier.

In August of 1820, James Planche brought Nodier's play to the London Lyceum under the name "The Vampire, or The Bride of the Isles." Although adapted from Nodier's "Le Vampire", it wasn't quite the same play, as Planche's version was written to fit the available wardrobe, and so his play was set in Scotland, (Vampires in kilts). Planche also made some other changes to the character relationships, including making the Aubrey analogue the heroine's father instead of her sister, and added some humor to the story with the character of M'Swill, a drunken servant.

It is interesting to note the link between “The Vampire” and "Frankenstein" in that Thomas Peter Cooke who played the title role in The Vampyre at the Theatre Royale in 1820, was also the first actor to play the Frankenstein Monster in the London staging of Presumption. In fact, in 1826 a theatre-goer in London could take in a double bill and be treated to both monsters.
Author PLANCHE, James Robinson
Date 1820
Binding wrappers
Publisher London: for John Lowndes, 1820.
Condition Upper right hand corner of title-page torn and repaired but not affecting any text, occasional mild spotting but overall in VERY GOOD condition.

Price: £3500.00

Offered by D & D Galleries

Friends of the PBFA

For £10 get free entry to our fairs, updates from the PBFA and more.

Please email info@pbfa.org for more information

Join PBFA

Membership of the PBFA is open to anyone who has been trading in antiquarian and second-hand books for a minimum of two years subject to certain criteria.

Email info@pbfa.org to find out more, or complete the enquiry form.

complete the form