Galerie des Artistes Dramatiques de Paris: Quarante portraits en pied dessines d'apres nature par Al. Lacauchie, et accompagnes d'autant de portraits litteraires. Tome Premier [Second] de [DANCE & OPERA]. Lacauchie, Alexandre - 1842

Paris: Marchant, 1842. Two volumes bound in one. Quarto. Full gilt-ruled dark green morocco with raised bands on spine in blindstamped compartments, titling gilt, inner dentelles gilt, dark green endpapers with doublure pattern.

Each volume consists of 3 preliminary leaves plus 40 full-page plates and 162 pp. of text, for a total of 80 fine lithographic portraits of dancers, singers, and actors in role portraits, finely-printed on china paper and laid down to mounts.

With biographical essays on each subject, each 4-6 pp., including:

Dancers Perrot, Elssler, Taglioni, Thillon, Leroux, and Grisi

Singers Deburau, Duprez, Fargueil, Aine, Levasseur, Rubini, Persiani, Prevost, Damoreau, Lafont, Lablache, Grisi, Tamburini, Klein (singer and actor), Stolz, Thillon, Chollet, Roger, Mario, and Dorus-Gras

Actors Rachel, M. Melingue, Plessy, Mme. Melingue, Achard, Doze, Odry, Lepeintre Jeune, Dupont, Boutin, Flore, Georges, Joanny, Albert, Vertpre, Monrose, Bocage, Firmin, Saint-Ernest, Mars, Menjaud, Sauvage, Bardou, Beauvallet, Alcide-Tousez, Mme. Volnys, Ferville, Mr. Volnys, Guillemin, Gauthier, Arnal, Clarisse, Chilly, Moessard, Brunet, Albert, Provost, Brohan, Anais, Vernet, Desmousseaux, Dorval, Regnier, Mante, Julienne, Lepeintre Aine, Dejazet, Numa, Samson, Sainville, Ligier, Colon Leplus, Raucourt, Bouffe, and Lemaitre

Binding slightly worn, rubbed, and bumped. Minor wear; some foxing to mounts, heavier to some leaves; some leaves slightly loose including title to Book I; some signatures loose; some browning to Book II. Most plates to Book I with tissue guards. The illustrative plates are in very good condition overall. A significant contribution to the iconography of the period, offering important evidence of contemporary performers and theatrical costume.