PERCHERON (Luc). Pyrrhe, tragedy by Luc Percheron... Lot 51

PERCHERON (Luc). Pyrrhe, tragedy by Luc Percheron du pays du Maine (1592). Paris : imprimerie de Crapelet, 1845. - In-8, 202 x 115 : xiij, 80 pp. Red morocco, boards decorated in the center with a quatrefoil surrounded by four compositions of small filigree irons, the whole set within an inner quatrefoil frame composed of three gilt fillets and marked at the corners with a filigree iron, and an outer frame of three gilt fillets, richly decorated ribbed spine, inner gilt lace, gilt edges on witnesses, modern red half-maroquin slipcase (Bauzonnet-Trautz and Ateliers Laurenchet for the slipcase). Extremely rare first edition of this five-act tragedy by Luc Percheron, published by and at the expense of Max de Clinchamp and Raoul de Montesson. It is the only known poetic work by this author, printed here from the only known manuscript preserved at the time in the Le Mans library. This edition was announced in the Bibliographie de la France of May 10, 1845 (no. 2366). Only 16 copies were printed, some in-12 on strong paper, others in-8 on chine and at least 1 on vellum. This is the ONLY KNOWN EXEMPLAIRE ON VELIN, specially printed for Max de Climchamp. It is quite possible that a second copy was printed on the same medium for Raoul de Montesson, but we have found no trace of this. A superb copy in a period binding signed "Bauzonnet-Trautz". Antoine Bauzonnet added to his name that of his son-in-law Trautz from 1840 to 1851. Cracked hinges. Provenance: Max de Climchamp, with bookplate and his name printed on the fourth leaf.