The Whole Comical Works of Monsr. Scarron. Containing I. His Comical Romance of a Company of Stage-Players. In Three Parts, Compleat. II. All his Novels and Histories. III. His Select Letters, Characters, & c.

London: S. and J. Sprint, 1700. Hardcover. Small 8vo. Rebound in full burgundy calf with gilt spine lettering and compartments. (8pp), 359pp, (3pp), 158pp, (2pp), 64pp. Engraved title page, 3 full-page engravings. Very good. Faintly age toned, but largely free from foxing and edge chips. Tight, attractive first edition of the collected works of the noted French novelist, poet and dramatist (1610-60) in perhaps turn-of-the-century (ca. 1900) handsome binding. Notes the title page, "Translated by Mr. Tho.[mas] Brown, Mr. [John] Savage, and Others" -- the "and Others" referring to the first important English translation of Scarron, John Bulteel's 1665 translation of "The Comical Romance." John Davies of Kidwelly, Wales, even earlier translated and published eight Scarron tales, but this 1700 edition does not make clear in its "The Booksellers to the Readers" explanation precisely which of these translations were used; they do claim on title page that "A Great Part [of this edition] of which never before in English." The first part contains Scarron's large "Comical Romance," the second part five short tales and the third part a selection of his letters. Front flyleaf bears engraved 18th century armorial bookplate of the Scottish clan Halkett ("Fides Sufficit," faith is sufficient) numbering this volume and dating it "1717"; front flyleaf bears the 1928 bookplate of noted Chicago attorney Seymour J. Frank, a well-known Lincoln and Civil War scholar. Scarce -- and popular enough that a second edition was published in 1703, a third in 1712 and fourth in 1727. A superb first edition with many of the first translations into English.