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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.

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.

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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.

by Desfontaines (Fr.-G. Fouques Deshayes). [From the library of Princess Sophie of Bavaria]

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  • Signed
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About This Item

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. -

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Details

Bookseller
Acanthus Antiquariaat NL (NL)
Bookseller's Inventory #
17103
Title
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.
Author
Desfontaines (Fr.-G. Fouques Deshayes). [From the library of Princess Sophie of Bavaria]
Illustrator
Royal provenance, incl. manuscript dedication poem to 'Sire'
Format/Binding
Contemporary tree-marbed calf, with Princess Sophie of Bavaria's crowned initials in both volumes.
Book Condition
Used - Very Good+
Quantity Available
1
Edition
First editions, incl. several signed editions.
Publisher
P. Robert-Christophe Ballard 'par exprès Commandement de Sa Majesté', a.o
Place of Publication
Paris
Date Published
1767-1809
Size
ca. 14 x 20.5 cm.
Weight
0.00
Keywords
Royal binding, Napoleon theatre, first editions, signed, manuscript poem by author
Note
May be a multi-volume set and require additional postage.

Terms of Sale

Acanthus Antiquariaat

30 day return guarantee, with full refund including original shipping costs for up to 30 days after delivery if an item arrives misdescribed or damaged.

About the Seller

Acanthus Antiquariaat

Seller rating:
This seller has earned a 5 of 5 Stars rating from Biblio customers.
Biblio.com member since 2021
Utrecht
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About Acanthus Antiquariaat

Acanthus Antiquariaat was founded in 1990 and offers rare, beautiful, and curious books, prints, and objects, in a wonderous venue, newly styled as a cabinet of curiosities.

We carry a stock of rare & antiquarian books and prints, including subjects like travelling, natural history, science, photography, avantgarde, illustrated books, fine bindings, optical toys, popular prints & broadsides, ephemera, objects of curiosity, and many more… in short, everything that we find interesting, beautiful, remarkable, or simply weird.

Glossary

Some terminology that may be used in this description includes:

Spine
The outer portion of a book which covers the actual binding. The spine usually faces outward when a book is placed on a shelf....
Gilt
The decorative application of gold or gold coloring to a portion of a book on the spine, edges of the text block, or an inlay in...
Verso
The page bound on the left side of a book, opposite to the recto page.
Fine
A book in fine condition exhibits no flaws. A fine condition book closely approaches As New condition, but may lack the...
Calf
Calf or calf hide is a common form of leather binding. Calf binding is naturally a light brown but there are ways to treat the...

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