[THEATER]. Petite bibliothèque des théâtres,... - Lot 140 - Ader

[THEATER]. Petite bibliothèque des théâtres, Contenant un Recueil des meilleures Pièces du Théâtre François, Tragique, Comique, Lyrique & Bouffon, depuis l'origine des Spectacles en France, jusqu'à nos jours. Paris : Au Bureau, Bélin, Brunet, 1783-1789. - 80 volumes in-18, 129 x 80. Red morocco, gilt roulette on the boards, smooth spine decorated, gilt roulette inside, gilt edges (early 19th century binding). Complete collection of volumes forming the Petite bibliothèque des théâtres, a publication created by Nicolas-Thomas Le Prince (1749-1818) in collaboration with Jean Baudrais (1749-1832). It was published by subscription from 1783 to 1789, and includes comedies and tragedies as well as lyrical comedies, boulevard comedies and operas . It also includes Essais historiques sur l'origine et les progrès de l'art dramatique en France, in three volumes, as well as the Étrennes de Polymnie. Choix de chansons, romances, vaudevilles, &c. in 5 volumes. This collection has the advantage of bringing together plays by first and second rate authors, giving an interesting panorama of French theatrical production since the 17th century. Thus, alongside Molière, Racine and Corneille, we find Du Ryer, Quinault, La Drevetière de l'Isle, Rotrou, Philippe Poisson, Tristan L'Hermite, Autreau, Guymond de La Touche, La Fosse, La Harpe, Scarron, Thomas Corneille, Vadé, Palaprat, Gresset, Crébillon, Collé, etc. Most of the plays are accompanied by epistles, prefaces, judgments, anecdotes, etc., and there are also interesting bibliographical catalogues. The illustration consists of 31 engraved hors texte portraits, representing Jean Mairet, Pierre du Ryer, Philippe Quinault, Jean de Rotrou, François Tristan L'Hermitte, Antoine Poinsinet, Pierre Corneille, Paul Scarron, Jean de La Fontaine, Champmeslé, Jean Joseph Vadé, Thomas Corneille, Jean Racine, Houdart de La Motte, La Noue, Antoine François Joly, Augustin Brueys, Jean Palaprat, Molière, Montfleury, Gresset, Saurin, Alexis Piron, Campistron, Le Franc de Pompignan, Crébillon, Le Sage, Baron, Pierre Laurent de Belloy and Destouches. There are also several plates of engraved music, and the first two volumes of the Etrennes de Polymnie are entirely engraved. A superb copy in a uniform binding of the early 19th century. Complete copies so bound are extremely rare. Traces of wetness without gravity to some bindings. Worm work on the first cover of volume 12 of 1784. Several endpapers partly disbound, volume 7 of 1787 is missing. Interiors perfectly preserved.