Paris, Jean Ribou, 1668.
12mo [147 x 85 mm] of (4) ll. privilege included and 88 pp. Full red morocco, large gilt decor with interlacings and tools covering the entirety of the covers, spine ribbed richly decorated, red morocco doublures, large inner gilt border, red watered silk endpapers, gilt edges. Binding signed Maylander.
First edition of this comedy by Moliere which achieved brilliant success since it was played consecutively 29 times always with great success.
Tchemerzine, IV, 784.
Second original edition according to Guibert (I, 416), which would be preceded by an edition only known to 2 copies, containing the sonnet celebrating the conquest of Franche-Comté by Louis XIV, which was later removed.
The first representation was given on January 13, 1668 in the theatre of the Palais Royal. The charming comedy of Amphitryon, little masterpiece of grace and poetry achieved complete success.
Then on January 16, it was staged in front of the King at the Tuileries. This play is an idealization of the Sun King’s court, Louis XIV.
“The finesse of psychological situations finds light and musical verses to express itself; all this steals a smile from an artist who seems to be losing interest in the life of his own heroes.”
The comedy is conducted with a liveliness that is likened to Vaudeville.
It is interesting to note that a copy of Amphitryon bound in red morocco lined with blue morocco by Trautz-Bauzonnet was sold for 1800 francs in the same catalogue Auguste Fontaine of 1875, while a copy of the Avare bound the same way was offered at 1500 francs by the same bookseller.
(Lacroix, Bibliographie moliéresque, extrait du catalogue d’Auguste Fontaine).
Attractive wide-margined copy, finely bound in decorated morocco with red morocco doublures by Maylander.
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