BARRIE, J.M.(author). Hugh THOMSON (illustrator). Quality Street, a Comedy in four acts. London; Hodder & Stoughton. 1913

4to.; publisher’s lilac cloth elaborately and prettily blocked in gilt to spine and upper cover, double-page pictorial endpapers in lilac; pp. vii, [viii-xi], 3-197 + [ii]; with fine pictorial title-page in line, illustrations in line throughout, many full-page, alongside a total of 22 wonderful coloured plates by Hugh Thomson, all mounted-at-large within triple-line printed borders in grey and protected by captioned and illustrated tissue-guards; a very nearly fine copy in exceptionally fresh and bright condition, both externally and internally, with just a touch of fading to spine, pristine internally with all plates and guards immaculate, with a neat contemporary gift inscription, dated 1913, to half-title and one other neat name.

First edition.  Sometimes described as ‘an adult fairy tale’ this gentle and entertaining comedy play about two unmarried sisters, set in the early 1800s, makes amusing use of farce, mistaken identity, and romance, with subtle allusions to the limited outlook for women in the Regency era and to societal expectations of their role.