Le Petit Duc [Maurice Grau's Opera-Bouffe Company]
New York: Metropolitan Printing and Engraving Establishment, 1879. First edition. Paperback. Quarto. 71, [1]pp. Original printed wrappers. Exquisite Opera libretto of Le petit duc (The little duke), an opéra comique in three acts by Charles Lecocq. The first act of the opera is set in the Oeil-de-Boeuf at Versailles. The very young Duke of Parthenay has been married by his family to Blanche de Cambry, the young daughter of a rich family. Two tutors, Frimousse and Montlandry, are arguing. Although the adolescent couple would like to spend some time together, the families decide that as they are both very young, the wife should go to a private school for aristocratic ladies for two years, while the furious young husband is sent off to be the colonel of a regiment. He wants to get back to his wife, and leads the regiment to the convent school. The second act opens at the ladies college in Lunéville run by Diane de Château-Lansac, and where Frimousse is teaching the girls. The principal learns that the regiment of Parthenay has surrounded her school. The little duke has meanwhile taken the disguise of a peasant girl while his men lay siege, and manages to gain entry to the school and meet his wife. However, the principal discovers them and tells him that war has broken out at the frontier. He and his men are forced to leave, along with Frimousse, who is dragged from his hiding place to go with them. The setting for the third act, a camp by a battlefield, sees the duke's regiment arrive in time to help win victory for the French troops. Returning to his tent, the little duke discovers there his Blanche, who has run away from the school. As a recompense he is allowed to be fully reunited with his wife and they set off for Versailles to bring news of the French victory to the king. Head and tail of spine chipped. Some soiling along edges of wrappers. Minor damp-staining along upper margin of the first three leafs (not affecting text). Wrappers in overall good-, interior in good+ to very good condition. g. Item #35998
Price: $75.00