G.F. Handel. Three editions: "Acis and Galatea", "Teseo" and "Saul", 1769-c.1792

Handel, George Frideric

Three editions 

Acis and Galatea a mask as it was originally composed [score] [RISM H 381; Smith no.9], London: for W. Randall, [1769], 3 leaves, 89 pages, large folio (36.3 x 26.2cm), engraved throughout, frontispiece (Houbraken) portrait, index, ownership inscriptions to reverse of portrait and to title ("John Carter. Lightcliffe Nr Halifax Aug.^t 31 1799...John [Carter's?] Book 1808]"), bookplate of G.S. Inglefield to front pastedown, modern half calf, some staining to margins and to title, thumbed, some worming to upper margin

Teseo opera in cinque atti rappresentata al teatro del re nel mercato del fieno a Londra nell' anno 1713 [score] [RISM H 1509; Smith no.2], [Arnold's edition], [1788], 159 pages, folio (33.5 x 24.5cm), engraved throughout, ornamental title-page, Arnold plate nos.30-34, some contemporary manuscript entries, ownership inscription to front pastedown ("Henry Earl of Barrymore"), stamps of Royal Music Library Buckingham Palace, late C18th or early C19th half calf, light spotting to title, upper cover loose, spine replaced with cloth backstrip

Saul, a sacred oratorio, in score, composed in the year 1740 [RISM H 1542; Smith no.9], [Arnold's edition], c.1792, 252, [1] pages, folio (32.5 x 23.7cm), engraved throughout, Arnold plate nos.111-117, late C19th or early C20th half calf, splitting at joints, corners rubbed

The provenance of Teseo is perhaps particularly interesting, the volume once belonging to Henry ('Cripplegate') Barry, 8th Earl of Barrymore (1770-1824), regarded by his contemporaries as a 'paragon of debauchery', but also known for a beautiful singing voice and a passion for music and drama.