Paul Scarron - Comédie de Scarron - 1659

An in-12 volume with very fine pages, collecting several comedies by Paul Scarron from the second half of the 17th century—some of which are now almost impossible to find.

This edition is particularly interesting from a collector's perspective, as the page numbering and the volume's layout suggest it is likely a standalone edition—perhaps a copy intended for a niche market of the time. The 1659 date listed in the volume details refers to the work's title page shown in the first image.

Contemporary full leather binding, natural browning and occasional foxing.

Traces of writing on the initial and final blank pages. Included are *La Fausse Apparence*, an adaptation of Calderón that illustrates Scarron’s evolution toward a more refined comedy of intrigue; *Le Prince corsaire*, a romantic adventure tragicomedy; *Don Japhet d'Arménie*, one of his masterpieces, later revived by Molière; *Le Faux Alexandre*; *Le Jodelet ou le Maître valet*, a seminal model of the "valet-master" figure that would have a lasting influence on French comedy; *Le Jodelet duelliste*; and *L'Héritier ridicule ou la Dame intéressée*, which already displays Molièresque themes. These plays—mostly adapted from Spanish *comedias*—mark the transition from rebellious burlesque to elegant comedy of intrigue and form a rare collection representative of Scarron’s dramatic work.

See pictures for your own evaluation.

Shipping with solid and adequate packaging.