FOURNIER (Édouard). Le Théâtre français au XVIe et au XVIIe siècle ou choix des comédies les plus curieuses antérieures à Molière avec une introduction, des notes et une notice sur chaque auteur par M. Édouard Fournier. - Le Théâtre français avant la Renaissance. 1450-1550. Mysteries, moralities and farces. Preceded by an introduction and accompanied by notes for the understanding of the text by M. Édouard Fournier. Paris: Laplace, Sanchez et Cie, [1871-1873]. -2 works in 2 volumes, large in-8, burgundy half-maroquin with corners, gilt fillets, smooth spine decorated, gilt head, untrimmed (L. Pouillet). First edition of these two important collections published by the man of letters and playwright Édouard Fournier (1819-1880), featuring dozens of plays written at little-known periods in the history of French theater, from the Middle Ages to the 17th century. The illustrations include a total of 42 steel engravings out of text, including a frontispiece and 21 plates in the first volume and 20 plates in the second, engraved after drawings by Maurice Sand, Henri Allouard and Adrien Marie. Precious and rare copies on Hollande paper, including the illustrations in two states, in color on strong vellum and in black on chine collé. This edition is not mentioned by Vicaire, but a note on the flyleaf of the first volume states that only 8 copies were printed on this paper. Very fine copies uniformly bound by Pouillet. A few scattered brown spots.