The Vocal Magazine. No. 1. January 2nd, 1815.

London: Published by J. Duncombe, 19 Little Queen Street, Holborn; printed by A. Redford, London Road. 8vo, 36pp, original stitching; engraved frontispiece by F. R. Cruikshank (del.) and T. Tomkins (sc.).

First number of Duncombe’s monthly songster, issued at sixpence, containing popular theatrical and comic songs of the early Regency stage. The wrapper promised a “Coloured Engraving by Cruikshanks”; the plate present here is the uncoloured “Frantic Mary” engraving, drawn by Frederick Robert Cruikshank and engraved by Charles Tomkins, typical of Duncombe’s practice.

Includes the “Mode of Publication” and “Address”, followed by a full run of songs across London’s theatres and minor venues. Complete at 36pp.

Contents include:

• The Woodpecker — Thomas Moore; sung by Mr Braham, Theatre Royal Drury Lane
• Life and Death of Nelly Brown; or, The Gin Shop — Mr Barrett; Royalty Theatre
• The Clown’s Courtship — C. Dibdin; sung by Mr Grimaldi, Aquatic Theatre (Sadler’s Wells)
• Lieutenant Fritz — sung by Mr Liston, Theatre Royal Lyceum
• General Opinions; or, The Joys of Peace — Mr Barrett / Mr Reece; Theatre Royal Birmingham
• No Slave Trade; or, Blackey in London — Mr Barrett / Mr Sanderson; sung by Mr Rose
• London Out of Town — Mr Ware; sung by Mr Grimaldi in Harlequin Whittington, Covent Garden
• The Irishman’s Theatrical Description — Mr T. Dibdin; “The Harmonists”
• Heart Stealing — Mr Arnold; sung by Mr Bannister in The Woodman & His Dog, Drury Lane

A representative cross‑section of Regency theatrical culture, referencing Astley’s Amphitheatre, the Royal Circus, Covent Garden, Drury Lane, the Lyceum, Sadler’s Wells, and provincial theatres.

Worn but complete; pages toned with age, edges frayed, stitching holding; frontispiece present and intact. A sound example of a fragile sixpenny publication seldom surviving complete.

Provenance: 

One of c.2,500+ items once from the collection or dealer stock of Winifred A Myers (Autographs) Ltd, St Martins Lane, London, evidenced by the quantity of Myers pre-printed envelopes and paper folders and the general ‘presentation’ of the items, many having Myers identification notes in pencil. 

Winifred Alice Myers (1909 – 1985) served as ABA (Antiquarian Booksellers Assoc) president, 1950-1952. See the ABA website for an extended article on Myers. Myers left her business, in 1985, to Ruth Shepherd, who traded from home until 2004.