Theatre in Early Printed Books: Editions, Programmes, Presentation Copies

Classics: choosing an edition

For Molière, who died in 1673, the first complete edition of his works, prepared by La Grange and Vivot, was published in 1682; it is beyond the reach of most collectors. The 1734 in-quarto edition, illustrated after Boucher, remains the great 18th-century edition, and its engravings also circulated separately. Romantic editions, such as the one adorned with vignettes by Tony Johannot, offer a more accessible entry point.

Corneille is sought after in the edition annotated by Voltaire (Geneva, 1764), adorned with figures by Gravelot. Racine has his typographic monument with the in-folio edition by Pierre Didot (1801–1805), and his 19th-century annotated editions remain fine reading copies. For ancient theatre, 18th-century translations yield handsome copies, such as the Comédies of Terence translated by the abbé Le Monnier (1771).

Complete works or individual plays

Complete works, often in several volumes, must be checked volume by volume and plate by plate. Individual plays, issued as slim pamphlets at the time of their premières, are the original editions of the repertoire. Their title pages often indicate the theatre and the date of the first performance, a detail invaluable for dating a copy.

Romantic theatre

The preface to Cromwell (1827) served as a manifesto, Henri III et sa cour by Alexandre Dumas triumphed in 1829 and the première of Hernani, on 25 February 1830 at the Théâtre-Français, remains the most famous battle in French theatrical history. The originals by Hugo, Dumas or Vigny (Chatterton, 1835) appear as pamphlets or contemporary half-bindings; the freshness of the paper and the presence of wrappers make all the difference in price.

Musset occupies a special place. After the failure of La Nuit vénitienne at the Odéon in December 1830, he wrote for the page, hence the title Un spectacle dans un fauteuil, and his comedies only took hold on the Paris stage from 1847, with Un caprice. His illustrated Comédies et proverbes, from the late 19th century to the 1920s, rank among the most pleasant theatre books to assemble.

Stage on paper: programmes, reviews, costumes

Theatre documents reveal what texts conceal: who performed, in what setting, before which audience. A poster from the revolutionary era, dated according to the Republican calendar, a programme from the Ballets Russes or the Comédie-Française, a signed photograph of an actor—these all form a distinct collection, often more affordable than major books.

Magazines bring the image to life: Comœdia, the daily founded in 1907, its supplement Comœdia illustré, and the theatrical supplements of L’Illustration. Nineteenth-century engraved and hand-coloured costume designs preserve traces of vanished productions, while original costume or set models, in watercolour or gouache, rank among the most sought-after items.

Signed copies

A author’s presentation copy often greatly enhances a modern play. Twentieth-century playwrights frequently inscribed their press copies: an inscription to an actor, director, or influential critic carries far more weight than a generic note to an unknown recipient. Check the handwriting and legibility of the recipient’s name.

Beware of false friends

The word “théâtre” long denoted “comprehensive chart” or “atlas.” The Théâtre françois published in Tours in 1594 by Maurice Bouguereau is an atlas, while Olivier de Serres’s Théâtre d’agriculture (1600) is an agronomy treatise. “Comédie” offers similar surprises with Balzac’s Comédie humaine or Dante’s Divine Comedy: these titles have been excluded from the selection below.

Frequently asked questions

Does a 19th-century play in wrappers have value?

Often just a few dozen euros for a common item. A first edition by a major author with its original wrappers, or bearing an inscription, can be worth considerably more; the condition of the paper, often fragile in such pamphlets, is a major factor.

How to identify the first edition of a play?

Look on the title-page for a mention of the first performance, compare it with the printing date, and consult a standard bibliography, such as Vicaire for the 19th century. A mention of “new edition” indicates a later impression.

Are theatre programmes collectable?

Yes, especially those from famous premières, the Ballets Russes or major Parisian stages, and those illustrated by well-known artists. A complete programme, without trimming or missing pages, is significantly more valuable.

Do you buy theatre libraries?

Yes. The bookseller will provide a free estimate from photographs of books and theatre-related documents, and purchases entire libraries in Paris and throughout France.

To go further

• Molière, collector’s guide
• Collecting Victor Hugo
• Identifying an inscribed copy
• Early journals and periodicals
• Vicaire, Carteret, Clouzot: standard bibliographies
• Section Literature and first editions
• Get your old books appraised
• Pierre Corneille: early editions, from Le Cid to Voltaire’s edition
• William Shakespeare in early French translations and illustrated editions
• Jean Cocteau: first editions, illustrated books and inscriptions