Phaedra & Hippolyta. Tragedy. Paris, Claude Barbin, 1677. In-12, dark blue morocco, coat of arms in the centre and gilt figure in the corners, spine decorated, same figure repeated, red morocco lining, gilt lace inside, coat of arms in the centre, double marbled paper endpapers, gilt edges (Trautz-Bauzonnet).
Very rare first edition in 78 pages. It is adorned with a beautiful engraved frontispiece by Sébastien Le Clerc after Charles Le Brun.
Racine's last secular tragedy and one of his most admirable plays. Phèdre was performed on the first day of the year 1677 on the stage of the Hôtel de Bourgogne and was not a success. This failure led Racine to abandon the theatre for a long period; he was not to return to the stage until twelve years later, with Esther, and finally Iphigénie, plays written at the insistence of Madame de Maintenon for the demoiselles de Saint-Cyr.
A fine copy, with wide margins, in the characteristic binding designed for Albert de Naurois, a descendant of Jean Racine (see lot n°8).
H. 157 mm.
From the Charles Hayoit library (I, 2001, n°128).
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