Théâtre à l'usage des jeunes personnes

First edition.
Contemporary half calf bindings. Decorated spine with raised bands. Red morocco title label and brown sheep volume label. Lacks to headcaps of volume IV. A small lack to tail of volume III. Rubbing. Quite good copies, very fresh.
The complete set comprises 24 plays. Many of these plays were originally intended for the children of Orléans under the care of the Comtesse de Genlis. The roles are performed by children. Madame de Genlis thus inaugurated a new genre in theatre, a theatre made by and for children. In the final volume, the preface specifies that this volume is intended solely for the children of artisans and merchants. It goes without saying that none of the plays is without a certain moral lesson which it demonstrates.
Volume I: Agar dans le désert; La belle et la bête; Les flacons; L'isle heureuse; L'enfant gâté; La curieuse; Les dangers du monde. Volume II: L'aveugle de Spa; La colombe; Cécile ou le sacrifice de l'amitié; Les ennemies généreuses; La bonne mère; L'intrigante. Volume III: Le bal d'enfans; Le voyageur; Vathek; Les faux amis; Le magistrat. Volume IV: La rosière de Salency; La marchande de mode; La lingère; Le libraire; Le vrai sage; Le portrait.