RESTIF DE LA BRETONNE (Nicolas-Edme).

Lot 26
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Estimation :
500 - 600 EUR
RESTIF DE LA BRETONNE (Nicolas-Edme).
La Mimographe, or Ideas of an honest woman for the reformation of the national theatre. Amsterdam, Changuion ; La Haie [sic], Gosse & Pinet, 1770. In-8, marbled calf, cold fillet, smooth spine decorated, red title-pieces, coat of arms at the end, marbled edges (Binding of the time). First edition. This work, never reprinted nor counterfeited, contains many historical details on the theatre, in particular the popular theatre in the 18th century. Restif talks about the profession of actor or Comedisme, the masks of the ancients, dance, pantomime, costumes and scenery, the acting, etc. There is also information on the Ambigu-Comique theatre, founded a year earlier by Audinot, with a list of its small actors and their favourite roles (pages 430 to 435). Let us also mention an interesting list of Actors & Actresses who have appeared with brilliance on our Theatre (pages 457 to 464), in which the author mentions the names of about 70 actors and 48 actresses (Jodelet, Molière, Baron, Hubert, Armande Béjart, Mademoiselle Clairon, etc). Copy with the arms of Charles-Olivier de Saint-Georges, marquis de Vérac (1743-1828), lieutenant general of Poitou and then ambassador to Catherine II and to Holland. His small coat of arms is gilt on the tail. From the library of Doctor André Chauveau (bookplate). Some light foxing. Restorations to the binding (corners, headpieces and spines), a later title-piece.
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