WHIRSKER. Les Métamorphoses de Melpomene et de Thalie ou caractères dramatiques des comédies françoise et italienne. Paris: chez l'auteur, Megré; Versailles: Blaizot, [1770]. - In-8, 198 x 138 : 25 plates. Marbled calf, smooth spine decorated, red edges (period binding). Sought-after first printing of this engraved collection of costumes of French and Italian actors and actresses, based on drawings by the miniaturist Whirsker. The work includes a title, a table, and 23 plates depicting famous actors and actresses in their iconic roles: Bellecour (the Marquis in Le Retour imprévu), Madlle Drouin (la Meunière in Les Trois cousines), Bellecour (the player in the comedy of the same name), Préville (Boniface Chrétien in Le Mercure galant), Molé (the Marquis in Le Dissipateur), Préville (M. Pincé in Le Tambour nocturne), Préville and Auger (Mtre Sangsue and Mtre Brigandeau in Le Mercure galant), Madlle Clairon (Electre), Bellecour (Philoctecte in Oedipe), Madlle Duménil (Athalie), Molé (Egiste in Mérope), Brisart and Molé (the Marquis and Darviane in Mélanide), Madlle Sainval and Le Kain (Zénobie and Radamiste), Brisart et Le Kain (Zopire et Mahomet), Le Kain et Madlle Duménil (Ninias et Sémiramis), Madme Favart (la Vieille in La Fée Urgèle), Laruette (Colas in Les Deux Chasseurs), Madme Laruette (Isabelle in Isabelle et Gertrude), Suier (le Soldat magicien), Caillot (Western in Tom Jones), Carlin (Arlequin soldat in Arlequin, Statue, Enfant &c.), Laruette and Caillot (Mathurin and Pierre Le Roux in Rose et Colas), Trial and Clerval (Bertrand and Monteauciel in Le Déserteur). Hinges cracked, headpieces missing, corners slightly dulled. Some soiling to leaves.