Mes passe-temps. Signed Jean Etienne Despreaux. 1806. First edition.

Jean-Etienne Despréaux - Mes Passe-Temps: Chansons suivies de l'Art de la Danse, Poëme en quatre chants, calqué sur l'Art poétique de Boileau Despréaux. Orné de gravures d'après les Dessins de Moreau le jeune, avec les airs notés - Paris: Chez l'auteur/Defrelle, libraire/Petit, libraire, 1806 - volume I: xiv, [251], 47p / volume II: viii, [306], 1p; frontis, [2] leaves of plates - hardcovers - 20.5 cm x 13 cm. With a handwritten and signed dedication to a Mr. Arnoult.
Both volumes contain a half title page and a title page with publisher's vignette, volume 1 with an illustrated frontispiece. Both volumes contain 1 leaf of plate each with protective guard sheet, both free of any rips or tears. Volume 2 contains two illustrated headpieces, Volume 1 contains 1 illustrated headpiece.
The author's most important book. L'Art de la Danse occupies the second half of volume II; it is essentially a survey in verse of dance from the time of Beauchamp (1661) to Vestris.
Please view the photographs for more information.
Registered postage. Tracking details will be forwarded to the purchaser. L15