RACINE, Jean Baptiste (1639-1699). Phedre & Hippolyte. Tragedie . Paris: Claude Barbin, 1677. 12° (155 x 85mm). Collation: a 6 A-G 6. Engraved frontispiece (a1) by Sebastian Le Clerc after Charles Le Brun letterpress title with woodcut vignette, woodcut and type-ornament head- and tailpieces. (Small spot in one leaf.) 19th-century crimson morocco janseniste , edges marbled and gilt, by Chambolle-Duru. Provenance : a few contemporary annotations lightly washed. FIRST EDITION. Phedre was sabotaged by the Duchesse de Bouillon, who not only commissioned a rival playwright to compose a play on the same subject but also packed the theatre with her own friends for the first six performances to ensure a cool reception. Despite her best efforts, Phedre eventually became a success, but not before Racine, disillusioned, renounced the theatre, not returning to it for 12 years. Guibert distinguished two editions printed in 1677, one with the play printed on 78 pages and one on 74 pages, and he gave priority to the 78-page edition. He further distinguished two issues of the 78-page edition, with the frontispiece either integral or extra to the first quire, without establishing clear precedence. The present copy belongs to the first edition with 78-page text and with the frontispiece integral to the first quire as the first leaf. Guibert pp.83-89; Tchemerzine 9, pp.345-6.
RACINE, Jean Baptiste (1639-1699). Phedre & Hippolyte. Tragedie . Paris: Claude Barbin, 1677. 12° (155 x 85mm). Collation: a 6 A-G 6. Engraved frontispiece (a1) by Sebastian Le Clerc after Charles Le Brun letterpress title with woodcut vignette, woodcut and type-ornament head- and tailpieces. (Small spot in one leaf.) 19th-century crimson morocco janseniste , edges marbled and gilt, by Chambolle-Duru. Provenance : a few contemporary annotations lightly washed. FIRST EDITION. Phedre was sabotaged by the Duchesse de Bouillon, who not only commissioned a rival playwright to compose a play on the same subject but also packed the theatre with her own friends for the first six performances to ensure a cool reception. Despite her best efforts, Phedre eventually became a success, but not before Racine, disillusioned, renounced the theatre, not returning to it for 12 years. Guibert distinguished two editions printed in 1677, one with the play printed on 78 pages and one on 74 pages, and he gave priority to the 78-page edition. He further distinguished two issues of the 78-page edition, with the frontispiece either integral or extra to the first quire, without establishing clear precedence. The present copy belongs to the first edition with 78-page text and with the frontispiece integral to the first quire as the first leaf. Guibert pp.83-89; Tchemerzine 9, pp.345-6.
Try LotSearch and its premium features for 7 days - without any costs!
Be notified automatically about new items in upcoming auctions.
Create an alert
.jpg "Source: Christie's")
.jpg "Source: Christie's")
