An original ink illustration featuring Dracula author Bram Stoker. The central figure is Sir Henry Irving in costume as Mephistopheles in his production of Faust at his Lyceum Theatre, London. Stoker is shown with Irving to the lower left ‘transacting a little business.’ This is a particularly appropriate caption as Irving’s performance of the devil has often been seen as the inspiration for Count Dracula; easy to believe given the costume and make-up depicted here. Stoker began work on ‘Dracula’ early in 1890. William Gorman Will’s dark and gothic ‘Faust’ was immensely popular and first ran from December 1885 to 1888. This drawing is not dated but was published in ‘Moonshine,’ a theatrical magazine, on 20th March 1886. It was the first in a series titled ‘Actors in their Dressing-Rooms.’ Irving and Stoker worked together for three decades and Stoker was devoted to the actor. However, images of them together are virtually unknown. The drawing is by Alfred Bryan, a prolific artist who was held in high esteem by Walter Sickert. It features a small vignette of the artist in the top right corner: ‘In attendance.’ The ‘portrait of an old friend’ is J.L.Toole, actor manager. The ‘royal visitor’ is of course Edward, Prince of Wales. Bryan was a regular contributor to many periodicals especially ‘Entr’acte’ but also ‘The London Figaro’, ‘The Illustrated Sporting and Dramatic News’ and ‘Judy.’