GUITRY (Sacha) - LEPAPE (Georges). The Beloved. Comedy. Paris : Henri Javal, 1949. - In-4, 249 x 201 : portrait, (8 ff. 2 first blanks), 118 pp, (3 ff. last blank), 6 plates, illustrated cover. Jansenist red morocco, spine ribbed, red morocco frame inside, decorated with a triple gilt fillet, pink moiré silk lining and endpapers, double endpapers, gilt head, untrimmed, cover and spine preserved (F. Michon). First edition of this comedy in 6 tableaux, first performed at the Théâtre de la Madeleine on October 30, 1940, with the author himself, Elvire Popesco and Huguette Duflos in the title roles. It is illustrated with 21 compositions by Georges LEPAPE, including 7 headbands, 7 caps and 7 off-texts, engraved on copperplate by Charles Mazelin and printed in colours by Porcabeuf's successor. The edition was limited to 340 copies only. This one, on Rives vellum, is one of the 20 reserved for the author's friends (n° XX). It is enriched with two suites of illustrations on the same paper, signed by Charles Mazelin, one in black, the other in colour with remarks, and the colour breakdown of 4 plates. A UNIQUE COPY, PROBABLY FROM THE COLLECTION OF GEORGES LEPAPE, ACCOMPANIED IN A SEPARATE VOLUME IN RED HALF-MAROQUIN WITH CORNERS, BY ALL THE ORIGINAL DRAWINGS OF THE BOOK AS WELL AS SEVERAL OTHER DRAWINGS, PROOFS AND DOCUMENTS. The volume contains the following items: - Crossed-out copper of the headband of the first painting, incorporated in the first lining. - Dedication by Sacha Guitry : My dear friend // how nice it would be // done by you! // And how much it would please me // if, in addition, it // was quickly done // to you with all my heart // Sacha Guitry . Under this dedication, the author has drawn two characters each pulling a curtain, between them this note: "And the curtain closes". - One page proof of the play, including a correction and a drawing by Sacha Guitry. - Caricatured portrait in pencil, representing Sacha Guitry as Louis XV, in profile and holding a flower in his hand. - The original drawings of the hors-texts and the headbands, signed by Lepape, that is to say 13 drawings. - 18 studies in pencil, gouache, coloured pencils, ink or watercolour, for the title and the illustrations, most of them not retained. Some of these studies are signed, but most have the artist's red stamp. There are also 3 pencil sketches on the reverse of 3 studies. - Drawings of the culs-de-lampe and of the banner of the page of the list of characters, that is to say 8 original drawings in violet ink by Georges Lepape, signed, except for the last two, and including the artist's stamp on the back. - 11 original studies by Georges Lepape for the title, the list of characters and the endpapers, the majority including the artist's stamp. - Pencil drawing of a binding, and tracing for a gilding iron. The drawing of the binding is accompanied by this note: "Tracing for the gilding iron of the binding (light vermilion morocco) of LAVAUD, in the spirit of what he did for the Initiation Venitienne. Leather endpapers. First hard cover in morocco in which will be embedded my small copper, previously deaciated, inked and gilded. - Unsigned pencil sketch for the headband of the first painting, and 5 signed proofs of the engraving corresponding to the drawing, namely the first 3 states and two copies of the final state, the first of which has the mention in the artist's hand: " Bon à tirer 20 janvier 1949.» The drawing and the first state are on laid paper, the various proofs are on wove paper. All the sheets have the artist's stamp on the back, except the proof of the second state. - Proof sheet of the list of characters. - Two original silver photographs, made by the Harcourt studio, representing two scenes from the play performed at the Madeleine theatre in 1940, in the original folder and rag paper spine used to preserve the artist's drawings . A perfectly preserved copy. The spines are only very slightly lightened. The plate of the colour suite with remarks was mistakenly placed between pages 100 and 101. The plate without remarks is therefore in the suite. Provenance: Georges Lepape.