Jean RACINE. OEuvres. Paris, Denys Thierry, 1697. 2 volumes - Lot 50

Jean RACINE. OEuvres. Paris, Denys Thierry, 1697. 2 volumes in-12, granite calf, spines with 5 ornate nerves (Binding of the period). Guibert, 156 / Le Petit, 383 / Tchemerzine-Scheler, V-360 /// I. (6f.)-468 / II. (6f.)-516. A very important collective edition, the third and last by Racine, containing for the first time all the author's plays. Added are Esther, Athalie (in continuous pagination) and Les Cantiques spirituels, plays not included in previous editions. This is the definitive text of Racine's work. It is illustrated with two frontispieces, one signed C. Le Brun, and 12 copper engravings, one for each play, mostly signed by F. Chauveau. This copy includes the 9 hardback leaves mentioned by Le Petit. The first frontispiece bears the translation of the Greek phrase: La crainte & la pitié, and the liminary leaf bears the handwritten bookplate L.G. Delafon. A fine copy, despite minor old restorations; traces of a bookplate torn from the first flyleaves.