FIRST EDITION OF THE MARSEILLAISE [Essais en vers et en prose] - INSCRIBED TO DALAYRAC

Paris: P. Didot l'Aîné . 1796. First edition. 8vo. [iv], 157, [1] + 5 pp engraved music ["L'Hymne a l'Esperance"]. Including the first authorized appearance in book form of "La Marseillaise," which appears at pp. 57-59 as "Le Chant des Combats, vulgairement L'Hyme des Marseillois. Aux Mânes de Sylvain Bailly. Premier Maire de Paris." Pink wrappers bound in later blue marbled boards over half brown morocco with title-plate stamped in gilt affixed to spine. Small chip to rear wrapper, else fine. Inscribed on the title page "R. delisle au Citoyen Dalayrac."


Published during the French Revolution and inscribed here to a fellow "citoyen," La Marseillaise - now the French national anthem - "was originally written by a royalist officer as a patriotic song in support of the then French royal government which had declared war on April 20, 1792, against the Emperor Francis of Austria and King William II of Prussia. Subsequently, volunteers from Marseilles heard the song and joined in the storming in the Tuileries on Aug. 10, 1792. The song was thereafter quickly reprinted a great many times, usually under the title Marches des Marseillais or variant thereof." (Fuld). The present slender and rare volume includes its first appearance in a book and was officially authorized by the author. This copy is especially interesting as it is inscribed to Dalayrac, an important and prolific composer of operas for the Comédie-Italienne, and a Freemason who is said to have composed the music for the induction of Voltaire to his lodge. (9616)

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