Théâtre

Autograph Letter Signed 'Jn B Buckstone' from the actor John Baldwin Buckstone to the playwright Thomas John Dibdin regarding a meeting 'of all the dramatic authors' to make arrangements following 'the new act' Bulwer Lytton's copyright reforms.

11371 — 29 Walcot Place Kennington; 14 June 1833. 1p. 4to. 15 lines. On aged and worn paper. The letter reads 'Dear Sir/ A general meeting of all the Dramatic Authors will take place at the Garricks head in Bow Street on Monday nexxt at One o'Clock. Can you continue to come among us as it is for the purpose of making some arrangements and appointing an agent under the new act - As many of your plays have been written within the last ten years the act being so far retrospective it is to your interest to understand all its advantages - I undertook to write you on the subject and also to inform you that Douglas Jerrold and Thomas James Serle will become subscribers to your work. One copy each - Am very happy to hear that your list of names are sic increasing'. The final reference is to Dibdin's 'Last Lays of the Last Three Dibdins' 1833 a collection of 200 songs which according to the Oxford DNB he published 'encouraged by Bulwer-Lytton's copyright reform . under royal patronage and wide theatrical subscription'. Dibdin is not named as the recipient but the item comes from a small collection of his papers. 29 Walcot Place, Kennington; 14 June 1833. unknown