Les Œuvres

2 volumes 12mo, citron morocco, triple gilt fillet framing the covers, coat of arms in the center, smooth spine decorated in the grotesque style, gilt edges. Contemporary binding.

160 x 93 mm.

The Works of Champmeslé.

Original edition bound in citron morocco

with the arms of Béatrix de Choiseul-Stainville (1730-1794).

From the library of the Count of Lignerolles.

Champmeslé, Charles Chevillet de. The Works of Monsieur de Champmeslé.

Paris, Pierre Jacques Ribou, 1735.

It was in Rouen that Charles Chevillet de Champmeslé began his career as an actor. He met a young actress, already widowed, Marie Desmares, whom he married. In 1668, the Champmeslé couple came to Paris to the Théâtre du Marais, then moved, in 1670, to the Hôtel de Bourgogne where Racine presented his tragedies. Champmeslé created the role of Antiochus in Bérénice, other roles as kings in tragedies and some peasant roles in comedies. In 1679, the Champmeslés joined the troupe at the Hôtel de Guénégaud, Molière’s successor, and thus both became part of the company united in 1680 by Louis XIV.

As an actor-author, Champmeslé wrote numerous delightful comedies, several in collaboration with Jean de La Fontaine, performed at the Hôtel de Bourgogne and the Comédie-Française.

Champmeslé (Marie Desmares, Mademoiselle de), renowned tragedienne, was born in Rouen on February 18, 1642; she married Charles Chevillet, known as Champmeslé, an actor, in January 1666. In 1669, she performed in Paris with her husband at the Théâtre du Marais; at the beginning of 1670, she moved with him to the Hôtel de Bourgogne, and it was there that she originated Racine’s great roles of Bérénice, Roxane or Athalie, Monime, Iphigénie, and Phèdre; she was courted by Racine, La Fontaine, and Charles de Sévigné. In 1679, she and her husband left the Hôtel de Bourgogne for the theater of the two troupes in 1680; Champmeslé continued her illustrious career until January 1688; she fell ill that year, left the stage, and died, having renounced acting, on May 15, 1689.

Precious and beautiful copy bound in period morocco with the arms of Béatrix de Choiseul-Stainville, daughter of François-Joseph II, Marquis of Sainville, Baron of Beaupré, ambassador of Duke François of Lorraine, and of Marie-Louise de Bassompierre, the “proud and imperious” sister of Louis XV’s minister. She was born in Lunéville in 1730. Lady, then coadjutor of the abbey of Bouxières-aux-Dames in the diocese of Toul, and canoness of Remiremont, she exerted a strong influence on her brother through her courage and masculine energy. On August 16, 1759, she married Antoine-Antonin, Duke of Gramont, Peer of France, governor of Navarre and Béarn, of whom she was the second wife. She died on the scaffold on April 17, 1794. The Duchess of Gramont had assembled a considerable library bound in red or green morocco.

From the Borluut de Noortdonck library, with ex-libris, and Lignerolles (March 17, 1894, no. 1670).