LULLY (Jean-Baptiste). Thesée tragedie mise en musique. A Pa - Lot 21

LULLY (Jean-Baptiste). Thesée tragedie mise en musique. A Paris, Par Christophe Ballard, 1688. In-folio, calf, ornate ribbed spine (period binding). ORIGINAL EDITION, published one year after the death of Lully (1632-1687), of the score of this opera, first performed in 1675 to a libretto by Philippe Quinault. This "general score", printed in movable type, is the most authentic, as it was probably made from a manuscript given to the publisher by Lully's family. It still contains a verse from the first draft of the prologue, although it was deleted thirteen years earlier. Monogrammed wet stamp "L D" on the first page. "This is a stamp used by Lully to mark the copies of scores he left on deposit with his publisher. In the event of the latter's bankruptcy, Lully could thus prove his ownership of the scores and recover the stock" (Denécheau). Publisher's signature on last page. Marginal wormholes; some damage. Denécheau "Autour des partitions d'opéras de J. B. Lully conservées à la Bibliothèque musicale François-Lang" 2010. See plate reproduction page 9