THE BEAUX STRATAGEM. A comedy With Seven Engravings on Copper by J. E. Laboureur and an Introduction by Bonamy Dobree

Bristol: Douglas Cleverdon, 1929. COPY NUMBER 1 of the this LIMITED FIRST EDITION, SIGNED by the Illustrator, J. E. Laboureur. With, an extra set of the engravings in final state housed in a foldover sleeve at the end of the book. This copy signed and with a special design by Laboureur on the upper cover. Printed on Batchelor hand-made paper. Including the normal copies a total printing of only 527 copies was accomplished. With a total of 15 engravings, the 7 called for engraved illustrations on plates by J. E. Laboureur bound in with tissue guards, a second set of the plates in final state housed in a sleeve at the rear and with an additional plate of the engraved title-page vignette added to this copy and not called for in the records. 8vo, in the original vellum over green cloth boards, the spine gilt lettered and with the special design by Laboureur stamped in gilt on the upper cover. xxviii +128 pp. A very fine copy, essentially as pristine. FIRST EDITION, COPY NUMBER 1 OF THIS LIMITED SIGNED EDITION WITH THE ADDITION OF LABOUREUR'S FINE LYRICAL PLATES.
The Beaux' Stratagem, a comedy, was first produced at the Theatre Royal in the Haymarket, London, on March 8, 1707. In the play, Archer and Aimwell, two young gentlemen who have fallen on hard times, plan to travel through small towns, entrap young heiresses, steal their money and move on. In the first town, Lichfield, they set their sights on Dorinda, but Aimwell falls truly in love, and the comedy ensues.
A master draftsman, engraver, etcher, and lithographer, the French Cubist, Jean-Emile Laboureur illustrated books by such authors as Andre Maurois, Jean Giraudoux, Colette, Andre Gide, Paul-Jean Toulet, Maurice Maeterlinck and François Mauriac. This is one of the few titles in English to be graced with his workmanship.