96 - [LITERATURE] - BEAUMARCHAIS, Pierre-Augustin Caron de

[LITERATURE] - BEAUMARCHAIS, Pierre-Augustin Caron de *La Folle Journée, or The Marriage of Figaro*, a comedy in five acts, in prose Paris, At the Palais-Royal, Published by Ruault, 1785 In-8°. Contemporary full calfskin. Smooth spine decorated with small gilt metal fittings. Red edges. Contemporary binding heavily damaged (significant wear, losses, trimmed caps and corners, split jaws, damage to the covers, etc.). Foxing. First edition of this absolute masterpiece of literary and theatrical history, in which the servant Figaro’s scathing retorts against the arbitrariness and privileges of the nobility foreshadow the upheavals of the Revolution of 1789. Banned for several years by Louis XVI, the play enjoyed an unprecedented triumph during its first public performance at the Théâtre-Français in April 1784. Our copy is in fine condition in its first edition, that is, without illustrations. References: Cordier, Bibliographie de Beaumarchais, 368; Tchemerzine, I, 563. Provenance: from the Errera family library