La Vestale Tragédie Lyrique en trois Actes, de Mr. de Jouy Mise en Musique et Dédiée à Sa Majesté L'Imperatrice et Reine par Gaspard Spontini Maître de Chapelle du Conservatoire de Naples ... Représentée pour la première fois, sur le Théâtre de l'Académie Impériale de Musique, le 15 Décembre 1807 ... Prix [200] f. ... Choizeau Scrip. [Full score]. Vincent d'Indy's copy

Paris: Chez Mlles. Erard, Rue du Mail, No. 21. Et à leur Dépôt Rue de Richelieu No. 67, vis-à-vis la Bibliothèque Impèriale [PN 700], 1808. 2 volumes. Folio. Dark red leather-backed light red leather boards with decorative gilt border to edges. Engraved throughout.

Vol. I
Act 1: 1f. (recto title, verso blank), 1f. (recto dedication to the Queen, verso blank), [i] ("Personages ... Acteurs"), 2-213, [i] (blank) pp. Title with large engraved coat of arms by L. C. Ruotte to upper half incorporating an eagle and a crown.

Vol. II
Act 2: 214-341 pp.; Act 3: [342]-511, [i] (blank) pp.

With the publisher Erard's autograph facsimile signature handstamp to front free endpaper.

Provenance
Distinguished French composer Vincent d'Indy (1851-1931), with his autograph inscription to verso of front free endpaper "Vincent d'Indy A.D. MDCCCLXXII."

Named cast includes Mr. Lainez (Licinius), Mr. Laïs (Cinna), Mr. Dérivis (Le Souverain Pontife), Mr. Duparc (Le Chef des Aruspices), Mr. Martin (Un Consul), Mme. Branchu (Julia), and Mme. Maillard (La Grande Vestale).

Bindings worn, rubbed, and bumped; boards detached; spines lacking; endpapers and several leaves detached. Minor internal wear, with some browning and occasional small stains and tears; foxing to blank margins, mostly light but occasionally a bit heavier.

In quite good internal condition overall. First Edition. Sonneck Dramatic Music, p. 156. Hirsch II, 886. Devriès and Lesure Vol. I, Part I, pp. 65. OCLC 55970580.

La Vestale was first performed in Paris at the Opéra on 15 December 1807.

Spontini "dominated serious grand opera of the early 19th century in Paris and later in Berlin. ... After writing his last work in the Italian opera buffa style in 1805 (Julie, ou Le pot de fleurs), Spontini devoted himself to work on La vestale, his first tragédie lyrique, which was completed in draft in 1805, the year in which he was first described as compositeur particulier de la chambre to the Empress Josephine. Josephine's patronage, to which Spontini responded with such occasional works as the cantata L'eccelsa gara and the vaudeville Tout le monde a tort (both 1806), proved a decisive influence on his career; only Josephine's persistent intervention brought about the long-delayed first performance of La vestale on 15 December 1807 (see fig.2). The work's triumphant success meant that Spontini was now seen as one of the leading composers in Paris, and he was commissioned to provide propaganda for Napoleon's Spanish campaign in the form of an opera about Hernán Cortés and his conquest of Mexico. Napoleon himself, with the kings of Saxony and Westphalia, attended the première of Fernand Cortez on 28 November 1809." Anselm Gerhard in Grove Music Online.