Lully, Jean-Baptiste.

the full score of the complete opera in a prologue and five acts, written by a single early copyist in dark brown ink, on up to twelve staves per page (a few hand-drawn), with the French words under each vocal line, occasional tempo and instrumental markings ("viste"; "fluttes", etc.)



320 pages, large folio (38.5 x 25.4cms), 12-stave paper printed in two six-stave systems, grapes watermark lettered "A ♣ M" (cf. Heawood 2308), contemporary vellum boards, early owner's booklabel ("Desains Notaire a St Quenin"), c.1700, pagination very occasionally trimmed, a few small stains

J.-B. Lully, Armide, Tragédie en musique, ed Lois Rosow (2003), including critical report, p.324ff.

Condition is described in the main body of the cataloguing, where appropriate
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

This is an unusually grand and imposing copy of Lully's famous tragédie-lyrique. Rosow lists ten early manuscript full scores, none in the UK and only two outside France. The primary source for Armide is the first edition (1686), on which this manuscript is modelled: no Lully autograph music survives and the reduced score was not published until c.1710.