THE LITTLE MINISTER; By J. M. Barrie / Maude Adams Edition

New York: R. H. Russell: Publisher, 1898. First Edition Thus Illustrated. Decorated & gilt-stamped cloth. Good +/None. G. Allen Gilbert. Small 4to, decorative tan buckram with gilt spine and dark brown lettering with gilt-blindstamping on front cover & medallion photographic portrait of actress Maud Adams, special full-page B&W illustrations on glossy stock drawn by G. Allen Gilbert & others from photographs of stage performances now first appearing, t.e.g., ribbon page-marker, 375 rough-cut pages. Sir James Matthew Barrie, 1st Baronet, OM (1860 - 1937) was a Scottish novelist and playwright, best remembered as the creator of Peter Pan. This edition celebrates Maude Adams (1872 - 1953), who came into stage prominence starring as "Lady Babbie" in J. M. Barrie's, The Little Minister (1897). She continued her stardom leading roles in other Barrie hits: Quality Street, What Every Woman Knows, and she defined the role of Peter Pan on Broadway in 1905. Her splendid performances and beauty made Adams the most popular actress in America. C[harles] Allan Gilbert (1873 - 1929) was a prominent American illustrator. Gilbert illustrated a large number of books, among them Barrie's, Little Minister (1898); Ellen Glasgow's, Life and Gabriella (1916); H.G. Wells', The Soul of a Bishop (1917); and Edith Wharton's, The Age of Innocence (1920). Condition: A solid copy with clean and unfoxed illustrations; uniform age-toning to paper; moderate wear and some spotting to covers and portrait of Maud Adams.