[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.

In-4 (248 x 197 mm), (4) ff., 150 pp., (1) f.-(1) f., 183 pp., (2) ff.
Full red morocco, boards decorated with a triple gilt fillet and a double central fillet in braces with spandrels at the corners in the Du Seuil style, spine with ornate false nerves, richly decorated boxes, title, author, date and place stamped in gold, gilt edges, rich interior roulette (Dubois relieur).

Rare first edition of this unfinished scholarly work, here binding the two volumes into one.
The study focused on ancient costume in the theatre, with Jean Racine's tragedies as the main source of inspiration.

A man of letters and chronicler of the Parisian stage, Jean-Charles Levacher de Charnois (1749-1792) devoted a great deal of his time to the study of theatre. A contributor to the Journal des théâtres, in the late 1780s he undertook a vast project entitled Costumes et Annales des grands théâtres, which was interrupted by the Revolution. The present volume is a continuation of this work.

The work is illustrated by a set of 53 engraved plates, most of them in wash, based on drawings by Philippe Cléry. The engravings are signed Alix, Ridé and Sergent.

A precious copy, of the greatest rarity, presenting a second state of 40 of the 53 plates - several before the letter and some bearing the engraver's name in point instead of the caption. Our work is also enhanced by a colour portrait of the author, normally absent from the original edition and most probably from the second edition of 1802.

Vintage inscription of the author's name on the title page.

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