MOLIÈRE. - Lot 36

MOLIÈRE. OEuvres... avec des remarques grammaticales, Des Avertissemens Et des Observations sur chaque Piéce, par M. Bret.Paris: La compagnie des libraires associés, 1773. - 6 volumes in-8, 192 x 123: portrait, (2 ff.), viij, 66 pp., pp. 67*-66*, pp. 67-80, pp. 80*-81*, pp. 81-520, 4 plates; (2 ff.), 576 pp.., 6 plates; (2 ff.), 551 pp. 6 plates; (2 ff.), 560 pp. 6 plates; (2 ff.), 774 pp. (1 f.) 5 plates; (2 ff.), 704 pp. 6 plates. One of the finest early editions of Molière's works, published by Bret, who followed the 1734 edition and reprinted Voltaire's La Vie de Molière, adding supplements, hence the two inserts on pages 66 and 80. The first edition is illustrated with a portrait of the author engraved by Cathelin after Mignard, 6 title vignettes and 33 plates after Moreau le jeune. Spine slightly faded, some rare scratches and rubbing, corners dulled. Headpieces bumped, rare wormholes. Very good condition inside. Slight wetness, however, on the bottom of the title of the last volume. Provenance: Jussieu sale (1997, no. 65), with sale label.