MOLIÈRE (Jean Baptiste Poquelin, dit). Œuvres de Molière, av - Lot 151

MOLIÈRE (Jean Baptiste Poquelin, dit). Œuvres de Molière, avec des remarques grammaticales ; des Avertissemens et des Observations sur chaque pièce, par M. Bret. Paris, Cie libraires associés, 1788. 6 vol. in-8, red morocco, richly decorated smooth spines, fine gilt border framing the covers with gilt arms in the center, gilt roulette on the spines and inside, gilt edges. Famous edition established by Bret, illustrated with a frontispiece portrait engraved by Cathelin after Mignard, 6 fleurons to the titles and 33 out-of-text figures engraved by the best artists of the period after Moreau. Contains 7 additional pages in volume 3 (new observations on the misanthrope) and 2 additional pages in volume 5 (new observations on the bourgeois gentilhomme) compared with the 1773 edition (Cohen, 716-719; Brunet III, 1798-1799.) Several small dark spots on boards, small marginal stains on several pages of volumes 2 and 6, one section of volume 3 printed on light blue paper. A precious contemporary morocco copy bearing the coat of arms of Jean Louis de Viefville des Essarts, baron de Viefville (1744 - 1820). He held important positions in the election of Guise, was a lawyer at the Parlement de Paris and elected deputy of the Third Estate to the Estates General of 1789. His ideas were both anti-slavery and loyal to the king and the constitution. Under the Empire, he was a member of the Aisne General Council and mayor of Guise.