Theater

Rare first edition decorated with ornamental headpieces, letterheads and culs-de-lampe.

Posterior binding in full red morocco, Jansenist spine, gilt date at the foot, marbled endpapers, frame of gilt roll-tooling on the pastedown endpapers, all edges gilt.
A very beautiful copy of one of the most famous plays in the French repertoire. It was played for the first time on 13 December 1669 at the Hôtel de Bourgogne and received a mixed reception. At the head of this edition is a preface by the playwright responding to his critics:

“Of all the works that I have given to the public, there is none
that attracted more applause and nor more critics that this one. [...] What is missed by the spectators may be noticed by the readers.”

Unique collection of documents (photographs, posters, etc.) and manuscripts relating to the confidential theatrical adaptation of Au beau rivage by an admirer from Le Mans of René Fallet.
In 1972, Claude-Denis Renard from Le Mans, a great admirer of René Fallet, contacted the latter so that he would accept a theatrical adaptation of his novel Au beau rivage published in 1970 and for which he received the Humor Prize. Animated by his usual kindness, the writer joyfully accepted, forgetting to inquire about the contingencies linked to the exploitation rights of the novel held by the production company Prothea, whose reaction was not long in coming. Indeed, Mme de Almeida, in charge of managing the Fallet file, expressed numerous reservations regarding the exploitation of the name "Au beau rivage." The play would finally be performed under certain conditions and its title would be transformed to "Bistro story" for only six exclusive performances in Le Mans.

The collection we offer consists of the following documents:
- An autograph letter (17x23.5cm) signed and dated 11/04/72, written on Hotel George V letterhead: "Moi aussi je suis content que toute cette vérole se soit arrangé (sic) au mieux. Je signe des trucs ou écris sans y prêter trop d'attention et puis cela me retombe sur la tête. Mais je suis aise que la gentillesse ne soit pas toujours punie [...] J'accompagnerai bien sûr madame d'Almeida au Mans. Trouvez moi donc un maillot de coureur taille 4 du club local, je fais collection de maillots, je viens de ramener de Bruxelles celui de champion de Belgique. Bonne chance pour "Bistrot story" (marrant) 13 à vous, R. Fallet" ["I too am happy that all this mess worked out for the best. I sign things or write without paying too much attention and then it comes back to bite me. But I'm glad that kindness is not always punished [...] I will of course accompany Madame d'Almeida to Le Mans. Find me a runner's jersey size 4 from the local club, I collect jerseys, I just brought back the Belgian champion's from Brussels. Good luck with 'Bistrot story' (funny) 13 to you, R. Fallet"]
- An autograph postcard (13.5x9cm) signed and dated 16/05/72, written on the verso of the reproduction of a photograph representing him with a doll, posted from his stronghold of Jaligny sur Bresbe in the Bourbonnais in which he thanks the director Claude-Denis Renard for his hospitality.
- Two typed letters (21x27cm) dated March 6 and 21, 1972 and signed by Mme d'Almeida typed on letterhead of the production company Prothea, managing the rights for "Au beau rivage" and authorizing the theatrical adaptation under certain conditions.
- An autograph letter (21x27cm) signed by the same and dated April 28, 1972, written on the same letterhead, ensuring the presence of René Fallet, difficult to reach in the middle of the resumption of the Belgian cycling season, at the first performance of "Bistro story" on May 7, 1972.
- A telegram (21x12cm) from Mme d'Almeida dated 28/05/1972 confirming her coming accompanied by Fallet to a performance
- The text of the play under the title "Au beau rivage" typed under cover bearing some annotations probably in Claude-Denis Renard's hand (21x29cm)
- The program of the theatrical adaptation under the title "Au beau rivage" and its cast (21x29cm)
- The small poster of the play "Au beau rivage" with three small marginal tears (29x42cm)
- The manuscript and illustrated mock-up with an original drawing representing the protagonists of "Bistrot story" on tracing paper (44.5x75.5cm)
- Two states of the large poster of "Bistrot story" on tracing paper (44.5x75.5cm)
- The small poster of the play under the title "Bistrot story" framed (26x42cm)
- Two black and white photographs of René Fallet, one original (18x13cm) in silver print and a reprint (18x12.5cm), taken during performances of "Bistrot story"

New edition. Portrait frontispiece. Title pages in red and black.

Contemporary full glazed brown calf binding. Decorated smooth spine. Brown calf title-label, black calf volume label. Light rubbing. Fine copy, very fresh.
The first two volumes are devoted to the poetic works, the third to the comedies. These works contain the Odes, Cantatas, Epistles, Allegories, Epigrams, and the comedies (Le flatteur, Le capricieux, Le caffé, La ceinture magique). Jean-Baptiste Rousseau was considered the greatest lyric poet of his time; he is especially credited with writing the first French cantatas, this secular genre that was set to music by the most brilliant composers. However, the academic style of Rousseau's writing did not outlive him.

First edition, rare copy with no statement of print.
Full blue morocco binding, spine with raised bands in the Jansenist style, endpapers and pastedowns of combed marbled paper, gilt dentelle framing the pastedowns, double gilt fillets and gilt tooling to headcaps and board edges, top edge gilt with untrimmed margins preserved, original front wrapper bound in, binding signed by Marius Michel. Monogrammed bookplate mounted on the verso of the first endpaper.
This copy is enriched with four hors-texte plates by Louis Boulanger and Alfred Johannot.
Signed autograph inscription by Victor Hugo on the half-title: « À Monsieur Ch[arles] Mévil son bien cordialement dévoué Victor Hugo. »