BEAUCHAMPS. Recherches sur les théâtres de France. Paris, Prault, 1735. 2 parts in one volume in-4, first edition of the first historical critical work on French theater, including 2 fold-out tables (the various theaters from Charles VI to Louis XV in the first part, and a chronological table of authors in the third part). Hoefer IV, 908 ("Beauchamps has not confined himself to compiling the titles of plays, but has also included details of the lives of French actors"). Bound in full contemporary marbled calf, boards with coat of arms, double fillet and fleur-de-lys spandrels, richly decorated 5-rib spine, red morocco title page, all edges marbled. Ex-libris Alfred Bovet. (binding rubbed, headbands missing, jaws cracked and small leather chips). Expert : Mr. Nicolas Asvisio