RACINE (Jean). Complete Plays. Paris: Éditions Marcel Besson - Lot 240

RACINE (Jean). Complete Plays. Paris: Éditions Marcel Besson, 1948. 4 volumes, small in-4 format, paperback with padded covers, front and back covers adorned with Racine’s coat of arms in color. Introduction by J.-J. Brousson. Numerous illustrations by Jacques Grange, reproduced in facsimile by D. Jacomet & Cie. Limited edition of 5,100 copies, plus 100 non-commercial copies: * 20 on B.F.K. de Rives vellum with an original drawing, three enhanced drawings, and a suite, nos. 1–20; * 60 on B.F.K. de Rives vellum with an original drawing and a suite, nos. 21–80; * 420 on B.F.K. de Rives vellum with a suite, nos. 81–500; * 4,000 on Renage chiffon vellum, nos. 501–4,500; * 500 on Renage chiffon vellum reserved for foreign bibliophiles, numbered in Roman numerals from I to D; * 100 non-commercial copies. Copy No. I, thus the first of the 500 copies reserved for foreign bibliophiles on Renage chiffon vellum. This particular numbering convention is interesting, even though it does not correspond to the enhanced B.F.K. fine papers. The collation of the print run is confirmed by other copies described on the market. Printed on May 15, 1948, by Arrault & Cie in Tours, under the direction of Daniel Jacomet. A beautiful, complete set of the four volumes, largely uncut, with fresh interiors. The covers are slightly browned and rubbed on the spines, with a few minor signs of wear, particularly on Volume II. The original slipcases are missing; they appear to have accompanied some copies of this edition.