First edition editions and theater archives: history of dramatic art and comedians, theory, essays, staging, posters, programs, manuscripts, rare books

Poster from the Théâtre d'Orléans, Thursday November 13, 1817 - theatrical performance: Le Secret, followed by Une heure de mariage, and ending with La Mélomanie.
Woodcut and typography on watermarked laid paper.

Poster for the Théâtre d'Orléans, Wednesday October 23, 1816 - theatrical performance: Dissipateur, followed by L'Hôtel garni.
Wood engraving and typography on watermarked laid paper.

Poster for the Théâtre d'Orléans, Sunday November 8, 1818 - theatrical performance: Coriolan au camp des Volsques, followed by Une journée à Versailles, and Les Perroquets de la Mère Philippe.
Wood engraving and typography on watermarked laid paper.

Playbill from the Théâtre d'Orléans, Sunday, September 22, 1816 - theatrical performance: Mérope, followed by La Danse interrompue.
Wood engraving and typography on watermarked laid paper.

Playbill from the Théâtre d'Orléans, Sunday, August 10, 1817 - theatrical performance: Encore un Pourceaugnac, followed by Nuit de la garde nationale, Haine aux femmes and La Danse interrompue.
Wood engraving and typography on watermarked laid paper.

Orleans Theatre Poster, Sunday January 19, 1817 1817 - theatrical performance: Corbeaux accusateurs, followed by Le Chevalier à la mode.
Woodcut and typography on laid watermarked paper.

Orleans Theatre Poster, Monday December 22, 1817 - theatrical performance: Le Château de Montenero, followed by La Lettre de change, ou les huissiers en défaut.
Woodcut and typography on laid watermarked paper.

Poster from the Théâtre d'Orléans, Monday September 23, 1816 - theatrical performance: L'Homme du jour, ou les dehors trompeurs, followed by Crispin médecin.
Wood engraving and typography on watermarked laid paper.

Poster from the Théâtre d'Orléans, Sunday November 10, 1816 - theatrical performance: Le Piège, followed by Bouffe et le Tailleur, and La Chaumière Moscowite.
Wood engraving and typography on watermarked laid paper.

Poster from the Théâtre d'Orléans, Sunday November 17, 1816 - theatrical performance: Les Ruines de Babylone, ou Giafar et Zaida, followed by Mélomanie and preceded by Remouleur et la meunière.
Woodcut and typography on watermarked laid paper.

Poster from the Théâtre d'Orléans, Sunday December 15, 1816 - theatrical performance: Iphigénie en Aulide, followed by Les Travestissemens and Le Dîner de Madelon.
Woodcut and typography on watermarked laid paper.

Poster from the Théâtre d'Orléans, Sunday February 2nd 1817 - theatrical play: Misanthropie et repentir, followed by Les Deux Philibert.
Wood engraving and typography on watermarked laid paper.

First edition.
Contemporary full sheep binding. Decorated smooth spine. Red morocco title label. Double fillet frame on boards. Joints cracked. Headcap partly worn. One corner bumped.
The author, responding to a letter, takes a moral position regarding the spectacles he condemns, as well as the encyclopedists.

First edition.
Extracted from the Revue des Deux Mondes.
Rare.
In plain wrappers.

First edition.
Contemporary half calf bindings. Decorated spine with raised bands. Red morocco title label and brown sheep volume label. Lacks to headcaps of volume IV. A small lack to tail of volume III. Rubbing. Quite good copies, very fresh.
The complete set comprises 24 plays. Many of these plays were originally intended for the children of Orléans under the care of the Comtesse de Genlis. The roles are performed by children. Madame de Genlis thus inaugurated a new genre in theatre, a theatre made by and for children. In the final volume, the preface specifies that this volume is intended solely for the children of artisans and merchants. It goes without saying that none of the...

Illustrated edition with drawings by the author in black and in colors.
Half red cloth binding with corners, smooth spine decorated with fleurons and gilt fillets.
Artists' balls, painters of the Butte, public balls, the Opera, the Moulin Rouge, students, the Boeuf gras, washhouses.
Some minor foxing affecting mainly the edges.

First edition.
Plain paper cover.
Rare.

(COLLECTIVE)
Théâtre de la pantomime futuriste [Futurist Pantomime Theater]
M. & J. de Brunoff, Paris n. d.
[c. 1930], 22 x 27,5 cm, stapled
First edition.
Biographies of the most celebrated futurists, richly illustrated.
A very good copy despite a light foxing to upper cover.
$ 2 500

Second edition.
Bradel binding in half bronze cloth, smooth spine decorated with gilt floral motif, double gilt fillet at foot, red shagreen title label, marbled paper boards, small marginal stains on boards, top edge gilt.
Some light foxing.
Rare.

First edition.
Illustrated cover by A. Dubout.

First edition, one of 100 copies on Holland paper with the engravings before letters on Japan paper.
Half chocolate shagreen binding with corners, spine with 6 raised bands, date and place of publication at foot, speckled paper boards, traces of rubbing on boards, circular mark on second board, some slight scuffing to leading edges, corners slightly bumped.
Edition enhanced with numerous wood engraving and heliogravure plates outside the text, depicting portraits of the great authors and great actors of the Comédie française.
Some scattered foxing, otherwise a handsome and imposing copy pleasingly bound.

First edition, one of the Service de Presse (advance) copies.
Inscribed by the author.
Spine slightly faded, foxing to endpapers.

First edition, a Service de Presse (advance) copy.
Autograph inscription from the author.
Iconography.
One joint lightly rubbed, small worming to rear cover.

First edition printed on laid paper.
Half turquoise sheep binding, smooth spine decorated with a gilt cartouche enhanced with gilt decorative motifs, minor rubbing to head caps, marbled paper boards, marbled endpapers and pastedowns, upper corners slightly bumped, original wrappers preserved, contemporary binding.
The work illustrated with an etched portrait of Verteuil by A. Lalauze as frontispiece.
Inscribed by Georges d'Heylli to the illustrator.

First edition, one of the Service de Presse (advance) copies.
Inscribed by Henri Gouhier to a couple who were his friends.
A small lack to the foot of the spine.

First edition.
A tiny lack to head of spine, foxing and two marginal tears clumsily restored with two adhesive patches.

First edition.
Publisher's full cloth binding, smooth spine, copies complete with their cellophane and dust jackets. Contributions by J. Cocteau, P. Fort, F. de Miomandre, L. Jouvet, J.L. Barrault...
Rich iconography.
Spine of the dust jacket of the second volume faded, slight minor damage to the cellophane of the first volume, otherwise a handsome complete set in 2 volumes.

First edition, of which there were no deluxe copies.
Inscribed by the author.
Spine very slightly sunned.

First edition.
Copy in original wrappers with silent covers, paper title label pasted to spine.
Small marginal tears to covers, some foxing.
Rare.

First edition.
Half aubergine shagreen binding, spine with four raised bands decorated with gilt tools showing minor rubbing, marbled paper boards, marbled endpapers and pastedowns, corners very slightly bumped, original wrapper preserved.
Occasional foxing.
Handsome copy.

First edition printed in 50 copies, ours one of 15 on Holland paper, the only deluxe copies.
Rare and handsome copy despite some light worming to the boards.

First edition.
Bradel binding in half mint green cloth with corners, smooth spine decorated with a gilt fleuron with minor scuffs, date at foot, hazelnut shagreen title-label, marbled paper boards, original wrappers preserved.
Our copy is complete with its frontispiece engraving.
Some foxing.
Rare.

First edition printed in small numbers on laid paper of this offprint.
Lacks to spine, covers marginally faded, back cover detached, handsome interior condition.
Rare.

First edition printed in 1000 copies on Angoulême laid paper, the only issue with 4 on Holland paper.
A small tear at the foot of one joint.

Second edition, published shortly after the first.
Full tawny sheep binding, early 20th century. Jansenist spine with raised bands. Red morocco title-label. Edges gilt. Handsome copy.
Memoirs of the very famous tragedienne Hyppolyte de la Tude Clairon (1723-1803), who was revered by the greatest figures (Diderot, Voltaire, Louis XV...). The actress was not content with success alone but contributed to profoundly regenerating French theater. Marmontel was her lover and encouraged her to abandon the declamatory style. The portrait of Mlle Dumesnil, who was long her rival, contains great acrimony. The work is not composed like classic memoirs but rather as a succession of articles and...

First edition.
Pamphlet in plain temporary wrapper with minor corner lacks without damage, handsome interior condition.
Rare.

First edition in French.
Illustrated work with a frontispiece portrait of the celebrated actress.
Spine sunned with minor losses, one joint cracked at head.
Rare copy almost entirely free from foxing and presented in its original wrappers.

Fourth edition.
Preface by Jules Clarétie.
Illustrations.
A handsome copy.

First edition on fine edition paper, only 50 copies printed on Japan paper.
Cover and illustrations by Henri Boutet.
Covers slightly soiled, very handsome interior condition.

First edition.
Half sheep binding in havana brown, smooth spine decorated with gilt fillets, traces of rubbing to spine and joints.
Some foxing.

First edition.
Work illustrated with 35 engravings and portraits, handsome illustrated color cover by Géo Dorival.

First edition.

New edition first in part.
Two marginal lacks to the lower cover.

First edition, of which no deluxe copies were printed.
Autograph inscription from the author.
Iconography. A tear affecting the last endpaper, tape marks on the back board.

First edition printed in 300 numbered copies on laid paper.
Work illustrated with a portrait of the author and 8 drawings by Mich.
Worming to covers, spine cracked and reglued with two small lacks at foot, handsome interior condition.

First edition.
Autograph inscription by the author.
A marginal dampstain to the front cover, a small marginal lack to the back cover.

First edition.
With frontispiece engraved portrait of the tragedian.
Spine skilfully reinforced, gift inscriptions, some light worming.
Rare.

First edition on ordinary paper.
Work illustrated with iconographic documents.

First edition, one of 10 numbered copies on China paper, the deluxe issue with 10 on Japan.
Half chocolate shagreen binding, spine with five raised bands showing traces of rubbing, date at foot, one joint rubbed at head and foot, upper corners slightly bumped.
Some inevitable light foxing, a small marginal tear without loss to page 195, otherwise handsome interior condition.
Rare.

New edition with some parts of the text in first edition.
Half-shagreen binding in burgundy, smooth spine decorated with triple gilt fillets, light wear to joints.
Occasional light foxing.
Rare.

First edition.
Illustrated cover.
One dampstain marginally affecting the covers and foot of spine.

New edition printed on vergé.
Illustrations.
A very good copy.

New edition.
Illustrations.
A slight corner lack to the front board, otherwise handsome copy.

First edition printed in a small number of copies on laid paper of this offprint.
A few tiny spots, otherwise handsome interior condition.

First edition published in a small number of copies.
A light scratch to front board, two small corner lacks affecting the rear board, handsome interior condition.
Rare copy of this biography devoted to this great lady of the theater.

First edition.
Preface by Maurice Barrès.
Iconography.
With the illustrated dust jacket which has a marginal lack and two tears to the front panel.
Handsome interior condition.

First edition.
Iconography.
Letters from J. Massenet, Mounet-Sully, L. Breval regarding the author's theories.
Expressions, gestures and attitudes. Handsome and rare copy.

First edition.
Half morocco binding in dark green, spine with five raised bands showing traces of rubbing, a scratch at the head of one joint.
Some light foxing.

First edition.
Spine sunned with small lacks at head, some foxing.

New edition.
Illustrated covers, work decorated with a bust of Samson as frontispiece, iconography.

First edition. Text preceded by a notice on the origin of French theatre and on the plays and mysteries that appeared from Faydit to Rotrou, that is from the year 1200 to 1600. Lacks to spine, minor lacks to one joint, rear board absent, some inevitable foxing. Rare.

First edition.
Minor marginal defects to front board, handsome interior condition.
Rare.

First edition, a Service de Presse (advance) copy, false statement of second edition.
Autograph inscription from J. de. Bourgogne.
About Fleury, with his portrait as frontispiece. Tiny marginal lacks to boards, small marginal worming to rear board, handsome interior condition.

First edition printed in 498 copies, ours one of the 388 numbered copies justified by the author on laid Moyen-âge paper.
Very slight marginal worming on the covers, otherwise handsome copy. Rare.

First edition.
Spine warped with lacks at head and foot, one joint cracked at head and foot, handsome interior condition.
Rare.

First edition, one of 100 numbered copies on Arches laid paper, the only deluxe copies.
Illustrated.
A tiny marginal lack to the front cover, otherwise a very fine copy.

First edition.
Occasional foxing.
Rare.