Music and Antiquarian Books and Manuscripts

Music and Antiquarian Books and Manuscripts

View full screen - View 1 of Lot 31. J.-B. Lully. First edition of "Bellérophon", 1679.

J.-B. Lully. First edition of "Bellérophon", 1679

Lot Closed

November 30, 02:31 PM GMT

Estimate

1,000 - 1,500 GBP

Lot Details

Description

Lully, Jean-Baptiste


Bellérophon tragédie mise en musique [score], Paris: Christophe Ballard, 1679


FIRST EDITION, [2], 154 leaves, folio (c.35.5 x 24cm), dedication leaf, type-set music, printer's woodcut device to title, head- and tail-pieces to each act, old manuscript doodles to front endpapers, ownership inscription to first page of music ("Baron de Mouthe [?]"), some early manuscript annotations, including some indications relating to performance, contemporary gilt arms to sides (containing monogram "L R": Le Roux?) contemporary calf, title laid down and some missing text supplied in manuscript, old repairs to fols.1-4, 25, 28, 29, small tear with paper loss to lower outer corner of fol.52, small tears to fols.56, 125 and 148, covers somewhat worn, with some loss of leather in places


Lully's tragédie lyrique was first performed at the Théâtre du Palais-Royal in Paris on 31 January 1679. Running for nine months, the opera was one of Lully's greatest successes.


PROVENANCE

Formerly in the collection of André Meyer (inscription by his son to endpaper): see the sale in these rooms (Sotheby's, Paris), 16 October 2012 (lot 166).


LITERATURE

RISM L 2974; Olivier 226

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