[VIDLER, Edward Alexander] Paul VEDDER (editor)

The Playgoer's Magazine. A Monthly Magazine for all Players and Playgoers. Volume 1, Number 1, [January 1888] to Volume 1, Number 3, [March 1888] [all published]

London, Published for the Proprietors by W. Kent and Co., 1888.

Small quarto, 128 pages with numerous illustrations plus 2 unnumbered leaves of advertisements at the end of the first number, and the covers of all three numbers (with advertisements on the rear cover in all instances).

Later plain overlapping textured card covers; covers and leaves adjacent to them, and the uneven edges, a little foxed; basically in excellent condition.

Provenance: Edward Edgar Pescott (1872-1954), horticulturalist, naturalist, author and book-collector, with his informative note tipped in on the recto of the first frontispiece. '''The Playgoer's Magazine". Nos 1, 2, 3, all published Jan, Feb, Mch 1888. "Paul Vedder" is Edward Alexander Vidler who came to Australia in 1888-9. Vidler wrote most of the work under the name of E. Alexander ... and under the initials "P.V." and "E.A.V." - Henry Irving's Life was his work. Vidler died in Melbne in 1942.' This very rare run clearly came from Vidler's estate: his bookplate is mounted on the inside front cover of the first number. 'Edward Alexander Vidler (1863-1942), publisher, journalist and author ... at 17 Edward was employed by Cassell & Co., publishers, where he was largely responsible for the publication of R.L. Stevenson's 'Treasure Island' in volume form ... He migrated to Melbourne in 1889' (the 'Australian Dictionary of Biography' has a lot of interesting things to say about him, but his involvement with this journal seems to have eluded researchers to this day - and there are no original copies of this magazine in any Australian library).

Item #105939

Price (AUD): $1,100.00
other currencies