You are here

Rare Books

Rare Book Division
Firestone Library
One Washington Road
Princeton, NJ 08540
609-258-3184
Curator of Rare Books
609-258-9942

Drama during the Restoration period represents a turning point in English theatre. Princeton has a large collection in the field of Restoration drama. The collection is dispersed within the General Rare Book Collection (Ex). In 2009, Princeton has more than 65% (895+ of 1379) of all issues of plays in England 1641-1700 and for 1660-1700 nearly two-thirds (about 613 of 986).

Most of the major Restoration dramatists are unusually well represented: Aphra Behn, William Congreve, John Crowne, John Dryden, Thomas Durfey, George Etherege, Nathaniel Lee, Thomas Otway, Elkanah Settle, Thomas Shadwell, William Wycherley.

For particulars refer to: Gerald Eades Bentley, "Restoration Plays at Princeton" in the Princeton University Library Chronicle XXXIV, 2 (Winter, 1973) pp. 131-139 [ full text] and Alfred L. Bush, "The Jacobean and Caroline Stage: Quartos from Princeton Collections" in the Princeton University Library Chronicle XXX, 2 (Winter, 1969) pp. 77-89 [ full text] .

See also: Mary Ann Jensen, "Recent Acquisitions in Restoration Plays" in the Princeton University Library Chronicle XXXVII, 3 (Spring, 1976) pp. 245-247 [ full text] .

A copy of Gertrude Woodward and James McManaway's A Checklist of English Plays 1641-1700 (Chicago, 1945) has been checked against the Princeton holdings (no call numbers given) with a manuscript list on the end leaves of plays purchased during the years 1963-1998. The list gives date, source and price of purchase. [(ExB) 04704.984].