[LEVACHER DE CHARNOIS, Jean-Charles]. Recherches sur les costumes et sur les théâtres de toutes les nations, tant anciennes que modernes ; Ouvrage utile aux Peintres, Statuaires, Architectes, Décorateurs, Comédiens, Costumiers, en un mot aux Artistes de tous les genres ; non moins utile pour l’étude de l’Histoire des temps reculés, des Mœurs des Peuples antiques, de leurs Usages, de leurs Loix, et nécessaire à l’Éducation des Adolescens.
Paris: M. Drouhin, 1790.

4to (248 × 197 mm). (4) ff., 150 pp.; (1) f., 183 pp., (2) ff. Full red morocco, covers with triple gilt fillet borders and central double-fillet cartouche with Du Seuil–style cornerpieces; spine with raised bands and gilt compartments, gilt lettering (author, title, date, place), gilt edges, richly gilt turn-ins; by Dubois (contemporary binding).

Rare first edition, the work remaining unfinished; here both volumes bound together in one.
A scholarly study of ancient theatrical costume, drawing heavily on characters from the tragedies of Jean Racine.

Jean-Charles Levacher de Charnois (1749–1792), man of letters and chronicler of the Parisian stage, devoted much of his career to theatrical studies. A contributor to the Journal des théâtres, he undertook in the late 1780s an ambitious project entitled Costumes et Annales des grands théâtres, interrupted by the Revolution. The present volume constitutes a continuation of that undertaking.

Illustrated with 53 engraved plates, most hand-washed, after drawings by Philippe Cléry; engraved by Alix, Ridé, and Sergent.
This copy is of particular interest: 40 of the 53 plates are in a second state, several avant la lettre, some bearing only the engraver’s name lightly scored in the plate in place of the full legend. The volume is further enriched by a hand-coloured portrait of the author, normally absent from the first edition and almost certainly sourced from the 1802 second edition.

A rare and desirable copy, finely bound, with a contemporary manuscript inscription of the author’s name on the title-page, upper part of the spine of the front cover superficially cracked, but this does not affect the strength of the spine.

References: Colas 717; Cohen 227; Brunet IV, 1135; Vinet II, 2108.