GAY, John.. THE BEGGAR'S OPERA. As it is acted at the Theatre-Royal in Lincolns-Inn Fields. The third edition: with the ouverture in score, the songs and the basses, (the ouverture and basses compos'd by Dr. Pepusch) curiously engrav'd on copper plates. London: printed for John Watts, at the Printing-Office in Wild-Court, near Lincoln's-Inn Fields. 1729. [with:] POLLY: AN OPERA. Being the second part of the Beggar's Opera. Written by Mr. Gay.. London: printed for the author, 1729.

Price: US$644.13 + shipping

Description: Two works in one volume, 4to, pp. [viii], 60; plus 46 plates of music; [ii], vii, [i], 72; plus 31 plates of music; first title a bit browned; occasional stains in text; contemporary mottled calf, rebacked and repaired at corners. Third edition of the Beggar's Opera, and first edition of Polly, the sequel. Gay's great ballad opera - an innovation to the English stage - was first performed in January 1728 and continued with a sensational run of 62 performances. The first printed editions were in the standard octavo format, but given the work's enormous popularity, there was scope for an edition larger in format, at a higher price. This third edition is the result, issued in a grand quarto, complete with 46 plates (on 23 leaves) of the music, which had been arranged by Johann Christoph Pepusch. The clamour for a sequel resulted in Polly, which is set not in London but in the West Indies: its political satire resulted in the government having it banned, so it was not performed at the time (its first London performance was not until 1777). However, the scandal did not prevent Gay from making a healthy profit from the publication. Pepusch again contributed the musical arrangement, which is present here on 31 plates. Provenance. Contemporary signature on title of Wm. Reepe, 1730 - this is a West Country name, and there seem to have been Reepes in Barnstaple (Gay's home town) at this period. Later signature also on title of Wm. Pullein, 1770.

Seller: Christopher Edwards ABA ILAB, Henley-on-Thames, OXON, United Kingdom

Printed by and for John WATTS. The Musical Miscellany; Being a Collection of Choice Songs Set to the Violin and Flute by the Most Eminent Masters. Volumes I and II. The Musical Miscellany; Being a Collection of Choice Songs And Lyrick Poems: With the Basses to each Tune, and Transpos'd for the Flute. by the Most Eminent Masters. Volume III to VI: Printed for and by John Watts [Six Volumes First Edition]. London: Printed by and for John Watts, 1729.

Price: US$2834.18 + shipping

Condition: Good

Description: London: Printed by and for John Watts at the Printing-Office in Wild-Court near Lincoln s Inn Fields, 1729-1731, in Six Volumes, First Edition. Six vols., 8vo., each with an engraved frontispiece (two designs - half with the harp on the right (III, IV, V), the other on the left (I, II, VI), not alternating in this set), and woodcut head- and tailpieces; title-pages printed in red and black with wood-cut music throughout. Volumes I and II are melodies only, with volumes III-VI being melodies with basso continuo (unfigured). The flute part is printed separately after the tune and verses of each song. A very attractive set of volumes (7 inches tall) in half mottled calf by Zaehnsdorf with the binder's mark to the base of the front end paper. First edition of an influential collection of over 450 songs and ballads published in the years of the brief flowering of English ballad opera subsequent to The Beggar's Opera (1728). For each song, Watts prints the melody (and from volume III on a bass continuo), the lyrics, and a flute or violin setting. Eleven of the songs have been attributed to Handel, including two printed here for the first time; "Dull Bus'ness hence" and "As on a Sunshine Summer's Day" (Smith, p. 167). (BUC II, 719) In volume VI, an early contribution by Fielding: 'A dialogue between a Beau's Head and his Heels', as well as songs by Gay, Prior, Pope, Theobald, and settings by Handel, Daniel Purcell, Pepusch, Galliard etc. The music was printed from woodcuts rather than copperplates, unusual by this date but particularly useful for Watts, as it allowed him to set lyrics within the music, and to re-use the musical settings (perhaps with different lyrics) in his publication of ballad operas. Watts was responsible for the printing of almost all the ballad operas with music in the late 1720s and 1730s. Many used song settings that first appeared here, and the choice of songs used in these operas was often heavily influenced by whether Watts had woodcuts of the music. [BUC II, 719]. Vol I [xii], 175pp; Vol II [viii], 179pp; Vol III [xii], 200pp; Vol IV [viii], 204pp; Vol V [xii], 208pp; Vol VI [xii], 208pp. Approximately 7 inches tall [18cm x 12cm (11.5cm wide for Vol IV)]. Condition Report Externally Spine good condition title and vol numbers in gilt to red labels, with volume numbers to a red label, gentle wear and marks. Joints good condition gently worn. Corners good condition bumped and rubbed. Boards good condition marbled paper and leather quarters. Page edges good condition top edge gilt, slightly faded. See above and photos. Internally Hinges good condition solid and sound. Paste downs good condition marbled. End papers good condition marbled. Title good condition gentle tanning and minor foxing. Pages good condition some minor marks, tanning and minor foxing. Binding good condition solid. See photos Publisher: see above. Publication Date: 1729-31 Binding: Hardback

Seller: Louis88Books (Members of the PBFA), Andover, United Kingdom

Sammelband. -. The Beggar's Opera. As it is Acted at the Theatre-Royal in Lincolns-Inn Fields. The Third Edition: With the Ouverture in Score, The Songs, and the Basses, (The Ouverture and Basse Compos?d by Dr. Pepusch). Curiosly Engrav?d on Copper Plates. - [Angebunden:] Polly: An Opera being the second part of the Beggar?s Opera. Written by Mr. Gay. - [Angebunden:] The Dunciad, variorum. With the Prolegomena of Scriblerus. - [Angebunden:] Fables. - 4 Werke in 1 Band. John Watts [bzw. Printed for the Author], London, 1729.

Price: US$3756.63 + shipping

Description: Quart, 4,60467231, 1729,50 halbseitige Taf. Lederband der Zeit (Ecken bestoßen, Rückenkanten und Kaptal angrissen) mit reicher Rücken-, Deckel- und Stehkantenvergoldung, Rückentitel und LesebändchenDie Titel jeweils in Rot und Schwarz gedruckt. Zahlreiche gestochene Vignetten, Kopf- und Zierleisten, , 1600 Gramm. - Sehr seltene Erstausgabe der beiden berühmten Satiren auf die Blütezeit der italienischen Oper; die Ouvertüre, 1728 uraufgeführt, liegt in Partitur vor, den Liedern ist - ebenfalls als Erstausgabe - nur die Melodie gedruckt. - Eitner 7, S. 359 (Beggar?s Opera in 4. Ausgabe, 1735); nicht in BSB; CPM 44, 405 bzw. 45, 350.

Seller: Musikantiquariat Dr. Bernhard A. Kohl GmbH, Stuttgart, Germany