3-052-722 - The Print Collector/Heritage Images

The late Mr. J. R. Planché, "Somerset Herald", 1880. Engraving from a photograph by the late Mr. John Watkins. 'Mr. Planché's last contribution to the stage was in August, 1872, being the lyrical portion of "Babil and Bijou," a fairy spectacle mainly composed by Mr. Dion Boucicault, for Covent-Garden. His theatrical labours, altogether, extended to one hundred and seventy-six distinct pieces, of which sixty-two were entirely original productions of Mr. Planché, and ten others written by him jointly with Mr. Charles Dance. In his later years Mr. Planché wrote his autobiography, which abounds with pleasant recollections of the managers, actors and actresses, and literary men of the last generation; he also produced the "History" and "Cyclopaedia" of British Costume, and sundry essays upon antiquarian topics. He was much esteemed in private life'. In 1879 two of his friends published his extravaganzas, together with some of his other works, as a five-volume set, entitled "The Extravaganzas of J. R. Planché, esq., (Somerset Herald) 1825-1871". From "Illustrated London News", 1880.