Les Burgraves, trilogy.

FIRST EDITION. No large paper copies were printed.

This romantic historical drama by Victor Hugo (1802-1885), set on the banks of the Rhine, premiered at the Comédie-Française on March 7, 1843. Bound into the volume are:- An autograph letter signed by Victor Hugo (1 p. octavo in black ink, dated March 21, 1843 ("very pressed")), addressed to the actor Beauvallet, who created the role of Job, the Burgrave of Heppenheff, indicating a new cut (pp. 149-150 of the edition), "no less stupid than the others". Hugo signs: "his most devoted friend and collaborator";- An autograph note signed (1 p. duodecimo in black ink, undated) by the tragedian Rachel (1821-1858), whose portrayals of the great heroines of Corneille, Racine... contributed in those same years to bringing classical theater back into fashion.It is addressed to François Buloz (1803-1877), founder of La Revue des deux mondes and administrator of the Comédie-Française in 1847-1848: she asks him for a box to see Les Burgraves a second time;- The caricature portrait of Hugo etched by Laurent-Jan (1808-1877) illustrating the famous lines: "Hugo lorgnant les voûtes bleues / Au seigneur demande tout bas / Pourquoi les astres ont des queues/ Quand Les Burgraves n'en ont pas!" (Hugo gazing at the blue vaults / Asks the lord softly / Why do stars have tails / When Les Burgraves do not!). Both refer to the alleged failure of Les Burgraves (34 performances), which premiered in the month when the passage of the comet, known as the Great March Comet (C1843/D1) – which had a double tail! – was observable in the sky of France and fascinated crowds.It is monogrammed and numbered in pencil (4/12);- The original copper plate of this etching, which has been set in the center of the first cover's lining;- The prospectus announcing the publication of one of the parodies to which Les Burgraves gave rise: Les Buses-Graves by M. Tortu Goth, pseudonym of the illustrator and caricaturist Bertall (1820-1882): 4 pp. printed on daffodil paper and illustrated with vignettes by the same.Dimensions: 225 x 138 mm.Provenance: Marquis Emmanuel du Bourg de Bozas (Cat. I, June 27-28, 1990, no. 186), with his ex-libris.