Blackbeard appeared on the English stage as early as 1798 and again in 1820. It was most likely this later production that inspired T. Matthews & Co. Ltd when they published their toy‑theatre version in 1851. The play was later republished by Benjamin Pollock under the title Pollock’s Characters and Scenes in Blackbeard the Pirate, or, the Jolly Buccaneer, continuing the tradition of adapting popular stage works for the toy‑theatre audience.
