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BELLAMY (GEORGE ANNE): An Apology of the Life of George Anne Bellamy, Late of Covent-Garden Theatre. Written by Herself. To which is annexed, Her original Letter to John Calcraft, Esq; advertised to be published in October, 1767, but which was then violently suppressed. T
London: Printed for the Author, by the Literary Society At the Logographic Press, and sold by J. Bell, at the British Library..., 1785. FIRST EDITION. 5 volumes in 2. 12mo, 176 x 112 mms., pp. 12, 215 [216 blank]; [iv], 226 [227 - 228 adverts]; [iv], 216; [iv], 215 [216 adverts]; [iv], 144 [145 - 164 Index of Names], including half-titles for each volume, contemporary quarter calf, red leather labels, marbled boards (very rubbed); spines a little nicked. With the autograph and date "Mary Mallet/ 1797" on the front paste-down end-paper of volume 1 and her autograph repeated on the front paste-down end-paper of volume 2, the autograph "J. R. Gurney" on the first half-title of each volume. George Anne Bellamy (?1731 - 1788) published this apologia in 1785, and some seven editions were published in 1785 and 1786. A sixth volume was published in 1785, and was added to various editions. It was edited by Alexander Bicknell (d. 1796), a minor author of romances, plays, poems, and a general literary hack. Bellamy, a great beauty, was a successful actress and survivor. She never married, but she had three children, one by George Montgomery Metham (1716–1793) and at least two with John Calcraft (bap. 1726 - 1772), the politician. Like many actresses, writers, musicians, etc. in the 18th century, her life was not financially secure, and she died in penury on 16 February 1788. Her account of her life, however, is full of anecdote, information, observation, and reflection on the life of an artist in a culture with money, time, and leisure for the arts but uncertain of the exact status of the arts in a changing social framework.
Offered for GBP 495.00 = appr. US$ 809.82 by: John Price Antiquarian Books - Book number: 6540
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