Commentatio de personis vulgo larvis seu mascheris von der Carnevals-L

1723. THEATER. Commentatio de personis vulgo larvis seu mascheris von der Carnevals-Lust. By Christoph H. Berger. Frontispiece, 8 ff. (including title printed in red and black with vignette), 340 pp., 37 ff. (including errata and binder's instructions). Illustrated with 153 (i.e. 154) engravings on 86 leaves, of which 4 are folding and 5 are pasted in. 8vo., 204 x 166 mm, bound in contemporary German brown calf. Frankfurt & Leipzig: G.M. Knochium, 1723. Only Edition of this interesting work on the theater of Antiquity - the engraved plates by Johann Georg Wolffgang (1662-1744) show masks and costumes known to be used in the six plays of Terence (Andria, Eunuchus, Heautontimoroumenos, Adelphi, Phormio and Hecyra), deriving from the famous Terence manuscript now known as Vaticanus 3868 (see K.E. Weston, "The Illustrated Terence MSS" in: Harvard Studies in Classical Philology XIV, 1903). The work, an expansion of Berger's Dissertatio de jure personarum (1720), refers to more than 360 authors listed by name, "quorum scripta et sententiae in primis in hac commemoratione referuntur." Berger (1687-1737) examines the art of Theatrical Performance and the concepts of Satire and Comedy through the ages. There is a chapter on Carnival decrees and prohibitions, mainly issued by German princes (these texts are in German). The work is dedicated to King Augustus II (1670-1733) "The Strong," of Poland, Prince Elector of Saxony (a man of extravagant tastes). Text somewhat browned but overall in very good condition. Lipperheide Ub 5. Cicognara 1586 ("Opera dottisima, e non comune in Italia"). Graesse I, 339. Hayn/Gotendorf, Bibliotheca Germanorum Erotica & Curiosa I, 538.