Pierre-Augustin Caron de BEAUMARCHAIS. P.S. co-signed by 28 - Lot 58

Pierre-Augustin Caron de BEAUMARCHAIS. P.S. co-signed by 28 dramatic authors and composers, Paris April 6, 1791; the beginning is missing; 4pages small in-4. Precious document on the rights of dramatic authors. This document, in the hand of André de Murville, includes article IX of Titre 2, and the whole of "Titre 3 De la Retribution des Auteurs", with its 8 articles. Article IX concerns the tickets distributed to the author of a new play. The 8 articles concern the remuneration of authors: "On all theaters in the Kingdom, authors will receive during their lifetime a remuneration proportionate to the takings of each performance of their works. During the first five years following the death of authors, this remuneration will be received by their successors in title" (art. I). Other articles concern the calculation of royalties for a spoken play, for a play set to music, the calculation of ordinary "daily expenses" to be deducted from receipts, the inclusion of extraordinary expenses, the author's share of "expenses for new decorations"... Finally, Marie-Joseph Chénier adds 5 lines, with the date: "Les Commissaires des auteurs dramatiques ont arreté que le présent travail serait imprimé sur le champ, et qu'après l'impression en serait envoyé à chaque auteur dramatique et à chaque théâtre du royaume". Signed by Beaumarchais, Brousse-Desfaucherets, Chamfort, Champein, Marie-Joseph de Chénier, Cubières, Dalayrac, Desfontaines, Dezède, Dubuisson, Ducis, Fenouillot de Falbaire, Florian, Framery "agent général", Grétry, Gudin de la Brenellerie, La Chabeaussière, Laharpe, Laujon, Le Blanc, Lemierre, Le Moyne, Maisonneuve, Marmontel, André de Murville, Palissot, Radet, de Santerre, M.J. Sedaine "President of the Committee".