[MOLIERE - FELIBIEN]. LES PLAISIRS DE L'ISLE ENCHANTEE (1673 - Lot 189

[MOLIERE - FELIBIEN]. LES PLAISIRS DE L'ISLE ENCHANTEE (1673) - RELATION DE LA FESTE DE VERSAILLES (1679) - LES DIVERTISSEMENS DE VERSAILLES (1676). Paris, Imprimerie Royale. 3 parts bound in 1 volume in folio, red morocco, boards in the Du Seuil style with the large arms of Louis XIV in the center and his cipher at the corners of the frame, spine ribbed and decorated, gilt edges (period binding). Part of the famous collection of prints executed by order of Louis XIV, known as the Cabinet du Roi, the first part, in its second edition (the 1st was published by Ballard in 1664), comprises 91 pages and 9 superb double plates engraved by Israël Silvestre, including the frontispiece of the Château de Versailles. The second part, 43 pages and 5 double plates, contains a long analysis of Les Festes de l'Amour et de Bacchus, said to have been composed by Racine, Quinault and Molière to music by Lulli. One of these plates depicts the Festes de l'amour and the general aspect of the theater on which they were performed in the château's park; the others represent the collation, the feast, the ballroom and the illuminations. The last part comprises 34 pages and 6 double plates, engraved by F. Chauveau and Le Pautre. The first depicts Alceste, a tragedy with ballets by Quinault and Lulli, performed in the marble courtyard; the second shows the royal concert; the third depicts Molière's Le Malade Imaginaire performed in the Versailles garden, in front of the grotto. The other three plates represent the feast, the fireworks and the illuminations. Copy with large finial representing a globe with three fleurs-de-lis on the title, and with the headband of F. Chauveau at the top of page 3. Missing endpapers replaced by 2 blank leaves, worn binding. Rebound copy in its original binding, with 3 plates washed on occasion, bound with the King's coat of arms, probably presented by the King to a high court official (O.H.R., 2494, iron no. 10, second format, 92 x 76 mm). (Rothschild n°1209).