[theatre Bindings] Racine - Works, Ill. Gravelot. 1768. Complete.

RACINE (Jean) - GRAVELOT (Hubert-François, engravings by). Works of Jean Racine [including:] The Thebaid - Alexander - Andromache - The PLaideurs - Britannicus - Berenice - Bajazet - Mithridate - Iphigenia and Aulide - Phaedra - Iphigenia and Tauris - Esther - Athalie - Various works in verse and prose - Letters [was bound to the following:] Praise of Racine by La Harpe [was bound to the following:] The Impartial Examination of Racine's Tragedies. In Paris, from the Printing House of Louis Cellot, 1768 [then from volume VI:] In London, s.e., 1768 - In Amsterdam and is in Paris, at Lacombe, 1772. 7 vols. in-8 format (203 x 137 mm) of 4 ff. n.fol., cxliv - 277 pp.; 2 ff. n.fol., 1 engraved frontispiece n.fol. and 443 pp.; 2 ff. n.fol., 1 engraved frontispiece n.fol. and 409 pp.; 2 ff. n.fol., 1 engraved frontispiece n.fol. and 432 pp.; 2 ff. n.fol., 1 engraved frontispiece n.fol. and 440 pp.; viii pp., 1 fnfol., 436 pp. and 1 fnfol.; 2 ff. n.fol., 399 pp., 17 pp. (List of subscribers), 2 ff. n.fol. and 99 pp.; vii - 80 pp. Uniform bindings (18th century pastiches) of full morocco and glazed mahogany shagreen, triple gilt fillet finished with gilt spandrels on the covers, ribbed spine decorated with oblique gilt fillets on the ribs, double gilt framing boxes, gilt fleurons, dotted gilt, double gilt fillets, gilt title, gilt volume number, gilt palette at the head and tail, gilt fillet on the edges, gilt edges, gilt interior lace. Set - in pleasant pastiche bindings - complete with the 7 volumes constituting it. The work contains 12 (out of 12) fine plates engraved after Gravelot; as well as a frontispiece portrait showing the author at the head of the first volume. ''Beautiful edition. In a convenient format and prized by enthusiasts. Many copies contain the portrait of Corneille by Gaucher''. (in Rahir). ''The last two volumes of this edition, in which Luneau de Boisjermain took credit for the work of the abbots d'Olivet and Desfontaines, which a publisher from Holland had already brought to light in 1743, did not obtain a privilege for the last two volumes containing the History of Port-Royal; which were printed under the rubric of London and without the name of the publisher. But by a singular anomaly, the list of subscribers is placed at the end of the seventh volume, thus printed in secret, the king is nevertheless included for 200 copies... ((in Soleinne). Soleinne II, Dramatic Library, 1391 - Brunet IV, Manual of the bookseller and book lover, 1078 (''Quite beautiful edition'') - Quérard VII, Literary France, p. 421 - Boissais, The Book of Engravings in the 18th Century, p. 144 - Réau, Illustration Engraving, p. 17 and following - Bénézit V, Dictionary of painters and engravers, p. 177 - Rahir, The Library of the enthusiast, p. 662 - Cohen II, Manual of the enthusiast of books with engravings, 848 - Cohen, Guide of the enthusiast of books with vignettes and figures, 394. Plates may have discreet stains. Paper sometimes slightly oxidized. Presence of some foxing; light and scattered.