THE STORY OF NELL GWYN: AND THE SAYINGS OF CHARLES THE SECOND.

CUNNINGHAM, PETER.

Published by Bradbury and Evans, London, 1852

About this Item

Signed binding by Zaehnsdorf for Bartlett and Company, Boston. Covers bordered with two gilt fillets with rosettes at each corner. Spine has six panels, elaborate gilt decorations, gilt titles, and date at foot of spine. Minor corner wear, small scuff near top of rear cover which is almost not seen. Top edge gilt. Marbled endpapers. Old auction listing tipped onto rear pastedown, describing the volume. Bound with half-title. Frontispiece engraving of Charles II, Nell Gwyn, and Evelyn (John Evelyn, the diarist). Several additional illustrations including a portrait of Pepys, a view of Covent Garden, and the old chuch of St. Martin's in the Fields. Nell Gwyn began her career as an orange-seller at the Royal Theatre, then as an actress. She became the mistress of Charles II, bore him two sons, settled into court life rather well. She is credited with founding the Chelsea Hospital for wounded war veterans. Charles' final request to his brother, as he neared death, was "let not poor Nelly starve". 212pp. Size: Octavo. Seller Inventory # 011742

Bibliographic Details

Title: THE STORY OF NELL GWYN: AND THE SAYINGS OF ...

Publisher: Bradbury and Evans, London

Publication Date: 1852

Binding: Full Crimson Morocco

Condition: Nearly Fine.

Edition: First Edition.