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ALDE
62
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RACINE (Jean). Bérénice. Tragedy.
See original version (French)
62
-
RACINE (Jean). Bérénice. Tragedy.
See original version (French)
Estimate €6,000 - €8,000
Voluntary lot
Description
RACINE (Jean). Bérénice. Tragedy. Paris, Claude Barbin, 1671. In-12, hard vellum binding, double blind-stamped fillet framing the text block, plain, unmarked spine, later handwritten label, mottled edges (contemporary binding). A rare and sought-after first edition.
First-printing copy featuring the buffalo-head banner at the start of the dedicatory epistle to Colbert.
‘Bérénice was regarded as a masterpiece at the time’ (A.-J. Guibert). The play was first performed on 21 November 1670 at the Hôtel de Bourgogne, with Marie Champmeslé in the title role. The text was slightly amended in subsequent editions.
A fine copy belonging to Henriette-Adélaïde of Savoy, Princess-Elector of Bavaria, bearing the handwritten bookplate: ‘Ex libris Ser[enissi]mæ Electricis Adelaidis’ at the top of the title page.
Henriette-Adélaïde (1636–1676), daughter of Victor Amadeus I of Savoy and Christine of France, and granddaughter of Henry IV, had married the Elector Ferdinand Marie of Bavaria in 1652.
On the first flyleaf of the volume is a handwritten bookplate in another hand: Books belonging to the Electress of Bavaria, and on the final endpaper, an interesting note in the same hand concerning a performance of *Bérénice* at the court of Munich in the 1680s, with a list of the princely actors who performed it for the birthday of Marie-Antoinette of Austria (1669–1692), Princess-Elector of Bavaria through her marriage to the eldest son of Henriette-Adélaïde, the Elector Maximilian II Emmanuel.
Here is the content of this note, barring any errors in transcription: Antiochus: Prince Egon / Bérénice: myself / Paulin: Prince Clemens / Arsace: Wolkenstein / Phenice: Mrs Baar [?] / Rutile: Max. Fugger [Maximilian Fugger?] / Recited on the day of the birth of Her Ladyship the Electress of Bavaria on 18 January, and subsequently on the 23rd and 26th, 1687. [It could be read as 1684, but Marie-Antoinette, born on 18 January, did not become Electress until after her marriage in July 1685].
Another handwritten bookplate on the first endpaper: Book belonging to Messrs the Counts of Gherardesca.
From the Louis Jouvet library, with bookplate and pencil initials on the endpaper.
An actor, director, theatre manager and collector, Louis Jouvet (1887–1951) was one of the greatest French actors of the 20th century. The book did not feature in the sale of the Lisa Jouvet estate (2005).
The binding is stained; there are wormholes on the first four leaves, along with a few scattered stains and foxing spots.
Guibert, 57, no. 1 – Riffaud, 7130 – Tchemerzine, V, 341.
See original version (French)
Auto-translation. Refer to original language for legal validity.
About the sale
Antique books – Alchemy & the occult sciences
Auction location
Auction time
11/04/2026 at 2:00 PM
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