King Arthur: or, The British vvorthy. : A dramatick opera. Perform'd at the Queens Theatre by Their Majesties servants. Written by Mr. Dryden.

King Arthur: or, The British vvorthy. : A dramatick opera. Perform'd at the Queens Theatre by Their Majesties servants. Written by Mr. Dryden.

London : Printed for Jacob Tonson, at the Judges-Head in Chancery-Lane near Fleetstreet, 1691.

[12], 51, [1] p. ; (4to)

Libretto only.

The music, composed by Purcell, "was never published, and it disappeared, probably within a very few years of its production"--DNB.

Sequel to Albion and Albanius, written for Charles II, who died before its performance. In 1691 it was produced, altered to the times by the omission of political overtones. Cf. DNB.

With a half-title.

In another issue, there is an unsigned leaf inserted after leaf A4 headed "Prologue to the opera, spoken by Mr. Betterton" and leaf H2 has been cancelled, with "The epilogue. Spoken by Mrs. Bracegirdle." printed on the verso. This issue lacks the unsigned leaf and leaf H2 is blank on verso.

Wing, D.G. Short-title catalogue of books printed in England, Scotland, Ireland, Wales, and British America, and of English books printed in other countries, 1641-1700 (CD-ROM, 1996), D2299
Macdonald, H. Dryden, 91ai
Woodward & McManaway, 428
English short title catalogue (ESTC), R225097

Great Britain -- England -- London.

D2299

Dobell. Uncut. Provenance: bookplate of W. H. C[ummings]; tipped in is manuscript letter to Cummings from William Chappell, July 28, 1879