Collection of 18 comedies, 4 signed in manuscript by the author, and with an unique 21-line manuscript poem by the author dedicated to 'Sire', possibly Napoleon Bonaparte.

Royal provenance, incl. manuscript dedication poem to 'Sire'.

A beautifully bound 2 volume set, containing an unique collection of 18 theatrical plays by the author Desfontaines, all with their original title-pages, dating from 1776 to 1809, from the library of Princess Sophie of Bavaria (1805-1872), stamped with her crowned initials in both volumes. Paris, P. Robert-Christophe Ballard 'par exprès Commandement de Sa Majesté', a.o., 1767-1809. 2 Vols. with 18 plays, with their original titles. 8vo. ca. 14 x 20.5 cm. The signed manuscript poem by the author on the first blank paper in the first volume. Contemporary tree-marbled calf, covers with fine gilt fillet, backs gilt decorated, sides gilt, red and green title-labels, small paper labels on bottom of spine, with Princess Sophie of Bavaria's crowned initials in both volumes stamped on verso of the first title.

The author François-Georges Fouques Deshayes (1733-1824), known as 'Desfontaines', was a French playwright, novelist, and librettist. Whilst working as a librarian and a royal censor, he wrote a vast number of works for stage. The at one time owner of this set, Sophie of Bavaria, was the mother of Emperor Franz Joseph I of Austria and Emperor Maximilian I of Mexico. She was known to be very close to Napoleon II (1811-1832), who lived in exile at the Austrian Court as 'Franz', Duke of Reichstadt. His mother Marie Louise of Austria (1791-1847), 2nd wife of Napoleon Bonaparte, and for 4 years Empress of the French and Queen of Italy, was a sister in law of Sophie. Since the last play is dated 1809, the date of the Napoleon Marie Louise's marriage in 1810, Napoleon's abdication in 1814 and his wife and sons subsequent exile to a then (again) French hostile Austrian court, makes a dedication to 'Sire', being Napoleon Bonaparte, plausible.

Present are: L'Aveugle de Palmyre. (1767); L'Amour et la Folie. (1782); Le Droit du Seigneur. (1784); L'Amant statue. (1785); La dot. (1785); Le divorce. (1793); Arlequin afficheur. (1794); Cendrillon, ou l'école des mères. (1802); Chapelain, ou la Ligue des auteurs contre Boileau. (1804); Duguay-Trouin, prisonnier à Plymouth. (1804); La Tapisserie de la reine Mathilde. (1804); Sophie Arnould. (1805); Le Rêve, ou la Colonne de Rosback. (1806); L'Ile de la Mégalantropogénésie, ou les Savants de naissance. (1807); M. Guillaume, ou le voyageur inconnu. (1808); Lantara, ou le Peintre au cabaret. (1809); Le procès du Fandango, ou la fandangomanie. (1809); Le marriage de Scarron (1809).

Very good set, including several rare & signed editions. -