Antique 1840 Theatre-Royal Liverpool Framed Playbill – Benefit of Mr. Clarke, Featuring Madame Vestris & Charles Mathews

This is an original and exceedingly rare Victorian-era theatre playbill, dated Monday, July 20, 1840, from the historic Theatre-Royal Liverpool, professionally mounted and framed. Issued for the benefit performance of Mr. Clarke, the acting manager, it features an all-star cast of the day, including Madame Vestris, Miss Ellen Tree, Charles Mathews, Mr. Keeley, and others.

Plays advertised include:
• “Love” by James Sheridan Knowles
• “Patter Versus Clatter”
• “Loan of a Lover” (Dutch adaptation by Van Lennep)

Also noted are elaborate stage settings such as “The Countess’s Boudoir”, “Ruins and Distant Country”, and “The Duke’s Garden”, promising lightning effects and grand scenic designs typical of the era’s spectacle theatre.

Highlights:
• Authentic letterpress printing on fragile period paper
• Framed and preserved (approx. 20”x10”)
• Names of historically significant actors and playwrights
• Dated clearly: July 20, 1840

Condition:
Visible edge wear, a missing bottom-center piece, and minor staining consistent with age. The text remains largely intact and legible. Frame protects and displays the piece beautifully.

A fantastic item for collectors of 19th-century theatre, broadside ephemera, or British cultural history.
Value- $250-$300
Pickup or shipping available. If shipping multiple items, I will combine to save on shipping.

Pickup DetailsPick up will be June 1 from 10am-1pm

June 2 from 4-7 pm