"Souvenirs de la campagne de Crimée". Revue comique de Crimée.

Folio: 29 b/w paper posters, ca. 30-40 x 22-26 cm, pasted on laid paper ff. 42,5 x 29 cm (2 sl. soiled).

Contemp. black shagreen (rubbed, corners bumped), flat spine (head & tail def.). Good condition.

Interesting made-up volume being a collection of 29 posters for popular spectacles in the French army theatre during the Crimean War (1853-1856), sometimes under the title "Revue comique de Crimée". The comically illustrated and lithogr. posters announce the spectacle and give the date and the programme of the evening. Our posters date from May 1855 to April 1856, and announce spectacles in the "Théatre de la Tchernaïa", "Théatre d'Inkermann", "Théatre de Traktir" and "Théatre de l'armée". These names refer to locations in Crimea. Comedies or vaudevilles mentioned on our posters are i.a. "Diana de Lys & de Camélias", "Le sire de Framboisy", "L'omelette fantastique", "Bruno le Fileur", "Pas de rose sans épine", "Quand on attend sa bourse", "La chambre à deux lits" and "Une femme qui mord". But also some announcements of bals ("Bal paré, costumé et masqué" sometimes with "feu d'artifice", "tombola pour les dames" or "buffet") or horse races ("Courses et carrousel du monastère de Saint Georges, Crimée"). Our collection of posters gives a rare glimpse into the daily life and much appreciated evening recreation of the people who participated in this harsh military conflict.
Ref. L. Claretie (Histoire des théâtres de société), pp. 186-203. - BnF.
Prov. "Charles Haffner, Capitaine au 7e de Ligne" (gilt printed lettering on the front cover of the vol.).