The 177 engravings of actors and actresses of Theatre from the 18the century.
The copy of Louis Jouvet, from the luxury edition printed in quarto format on large paper
avec the figures in the coloring of the period.
Paris, 1786-1789.
Le Vacher de Charnois, Jean-Charles (1749-1792). Costumes and Annals of the great theaters of Paris, accompanied by interesting and curious notes, with privilege of the king… A number of this journal appears every Saturday.
[Paris], On souscrit au Palais-royal au bureau du journal des costumes des théâtres, au-dessus du Café du caveau & du Sallon des arts. Et chez Mérigot le jeune, libraire, quai des Augustins, Desene, au Palais-royal. L’Esclapart, libraire de Monsieur, frère du Roi, rue du Roule. Royer, quai des Augustins, s. d. [15 avril 1786 – 8 novembre 1789].
5 quarto volumes containing 5 parts: XXIV numbers containing 25 plates of costumes out of text, 22 in color and 11 pages of music scores; XXIV numbers (XXV to XLVIII) containing 24 plates of costumes out of text, 17 in color; 2ff., 198 pp., 200 pp. (from no. XXIV to XLVIII) containing 48 plates of costumes out of text, 40 in color, one technical plate in black and 2 pages of music; 196 pp. (containing XXIV numbers), 224 pp. (containing XXIV numbers (from no. XXV to XLVIII) containing 48 plates of costumes, 45 in color and 1 page of music; 226 pp. (containing XXVI numbers), 50 pp. (containing 6 numbers (from XXVII to XXXII) containing 33 plates out of text of costumes, 22 in color and one folding plate; plates under serpentes. Overall in excellent condition. Copy with wide margins on large paper, bluish for most part.
Marbled brown sheepskin, spine with raised bands adorned, title and volume pieces in blonde, rubbed joints, red edges. Binding of the period.
245 x 190 mm.
Original edition adorned with 179 prints, of which 177 are costumes of theater actors from the 18th century and 146 in the coloring of the period.
“There are copies on large paper in quarto format, in these the first six numbers are printed with a larger justification and the 6 plates are in quarto format, these six plates are reduced in format in the octavo edition. ” (Colas)
Superb album of plates by Janinet, engraved in aquatint and colored, for the review of the Costumes and Annals of the Great theaters of Paris, published from 1786 to 1789, including colored portraits of Mlles Arnould, Colombe, Dumesnil, of Mmes Favart or Gontier, M. Contat, Dugazon, Le Kain, etc.
This review appeared in the form of deliveries, every week, on Saturday then on Friday from July 21, 1786.
Precious copy belonging to the luxury edition printed in quarto format on large paper.
“176 figures in wash and color, after Duplessi-Bertaux, Dutertre, Le Barbier, Desrais, Janinet, etc., or unsigned and engraved by Janinet.
Periodic publication of which 48 numbers appeared annually, according to the prospectus, with 24 colored figures, 24 engravings after the antique and 36 plates of music, at the price of 30 livres (the first three years had 48 numbers and the fourth only 33).
This work begun by M. D’Auberteuil and continued by Le Vacher de Charnois appeared regularly from April 15, 1786 to November 8, 1789, when it was willingly stopped by Charnois.
Interesting collection, sought after for the information it contains on the theater, but especially for its lovely portraits of actresses, among which we note Mlle Contat (role of Suzanne, from the ‘Folle Journée’), Mme Dugazon, Mlle Guimard, Mlle Colombe, Mme Vestris, Mme Favart, Sophie Arnould, Adrienne Lecouvreur, Raucourt, etc.” (Cohen, Guide de l’amateur de livres a gravures de XVIIIe siècle. col.226-227)
Jean-Charles Le Vacher de Charnois (born in Paris on March 14, 1749, where he died on September 2, 1792 in the prison of the Abbey, during the September massacres) is a French writer, journalist, playwright, and theater critic.
After a stint in the royal administration, he began his literary career by writing the Journal des théâtres in 1777. He is familiar with the world of theaters, to which he is attached by his marriage to Angélique-Marie Dubus, daughter of the actor Préville, in Paris on November 29, 1777. In 1777, he is a friend of an actress, Madame Bellecour, and in 1780, he is the lover of an actress of the Comédie-Française then of the Opera, Mlle Durancy. But having reconciled with his wife, he had to break up with the actress who, in despair, took her own life.
Original edition of this valuable work for the history of theater decoration and costume illustrated in the first print with 177 figures on large paper.
The iconography proves particularly interesting for the illustration of theater pieces, most engravings being dedicated to actors.
The whole finely engraved and delicately colored presents a beautiful artistic quality. Highly sought after book: 30,000 fr. (large paper) Besombes 1930. While the remarkable books of the Rahir library were sold starting at 1,000 fr.
Provenance: Printed bookplate of Louis Jouvet, famous French actor, director, and theater manager, professor at the National Conservatory of Dramatic Arts.
