LEMERCIER DE NEUVILLE (Louis). Theatre of the Pupazzi. Lyon: N. Scheuring, 1876. - In-8, paperback. Partly original collective edition gathering 18 playlets for pupazzi, satirical puppets created by the author. "The Pupazzi troupe forms a dramatic staff like none seen on the boards of any theatre. More illustrious than the members of the Comédie-Française, better attuned than the singers of the Opera, less demanding than the tenors of Russia and the warblers of America, more amusing than the jokers of the Bouffes and the Palais-Royal, more supple than Auriol, cuter than the actors of the children's troupe of the late Comte theatre, do not these puppets of wood and rags represent the ideal of a dramatic troupe? Impresario, author, actor, prompter, stagehand, decorator and sculptor, Lemercier de Neuville is the soul of this marvelous microcosm" (p. ij). The edition is illustrated with a portrait of the author engraved by Fugère and 18 beautiful etched headpieces, including one after Cham and another after Bertall. Each playlet is followed by a note giving information on the play. One of the few copies printed on laid paper, very well preserved. The cover has a beautiful engraving by Lalauze. COPY OF THE CARICATURIST, JOURNALIST AND PHOTOGRAPHER ÉTIENNE CARJAT (1828-1906), WITH HIS AUTOGRAPH SIGNATURE ON THE FALSE TITLE. This provenance is of great importance here. Lemercier de Neuville considered Carjat as the godfather of the pupazzi. It was indeed him, with Gustave Doré, who encouraged the author to present his puppets to the public, and it was in the photographer's studio that the first performance of the pupazzi took place on November 28, 1863. Copy enriched with a small L.A.S. from Étienne Carjat, asking the addressee for two seats for tonight (Thursday, July 8).