[THEATER]. Petite bibliothèque des théâtres, Contenant un Recueil des meilleures Pièces du Théâtre François, Tragique, Comique, Lyrique & Bouffon, depuis l'origine des Spectacles en France, jusqu'à nos jours. Paris : Au Bureau, Bélin, Brunet, 1783-1789. - 80 volumes in-18, 129 x 80. Red morocco, gilt roulette on the boards, smooth spine decorated, gilt roulette inside, gilt edges (early 19th century binding). Complete collection of volumes forming the Petite bibliothèque des théâtres, a publication created by Nicolas-Thomas Le Prince (1749-1818) in collaboration with Jean Baudrais (1749-1832). It was published by subscription from 1783 to 1789, and includes comedies and tragedies, as well as lyrical comedies, boulevard comedies, and operas . One finds there moreover historical Essays on the origin and the progress of the dramatic art in France, in 3 volumes, as well as the Étrennes de Polymnie. Choix de chansons, romances, vaudevilles, &c. in 5 volumes. This collection has the advantage of gathering plays by first and second rate authors, giving an interesting panorama of the French theatrical production since the 17th century. Thus alongside Molière, Racine and Corneille, one finds Du Ryer, Quinault, La Drevetière de l'Isle, Rotrou, Philippe Poisson, Tristan L'Hermite, Autreau, Guymond de La Touche, La Fosse, La Harpe, Scarron, Thomas Corneille, Vadé, Palaprat, Gresset, Crébillon, Collé, etc. The plays are mostly accompanied by epistles, prefaces, judgments, anecdotes, etc., and there are also interesting bibliographical catalogs. The illustration is composed of 31 portraits out of text engraved in intaglio, representing Jean Mairet, Pierre du Ryer, Philippe Quinault, Jean de Rotrou, François Tristan L'Hermitte, Antoine Poinsinet, Pierre Corneille, Paul Scarron, Jean de La Fontaine, Champmeslé, Jean Joseph Vadé, Thomas Corneille, Jean Racine, Houdart de La Motte, La Noue, Antoine François Joly, Augustin Brueys, Jean Palaprat, Molière, Montfleury, Gresset, Saurin, Alexis Piron, Campistron, Le Franc de Pompignan, Crébillon, Le Sage, Baron, Pierre Laurent de Belloy and Destouches. There are also several plates of engraved music, and the first two volumes of the Etrennes de Polymnie are entirely engraved. A superb copy in a uniform binding of the early 19th century. Complete copies bound in this manner are extremely rare. Traces of wetness without gravity to some bindings. Worm work on the first cover of volume 12 of 1784. Several endpapers partly unbound, volume 7 of 1787 is missing. Interiors perfectly preserved.