Splendid copy, luxuriously extra-illustrated 5 years after the original publication, of the first edition of Pijpers's Dutch adaptation of Marmontel's 1771 Zémire et Azor, a version of the fairytale Beauty and the beast. It is signed in brown ink by the author, and on the last page by G. de Visscher (one of the delegates of the Amsterdam theatre) as a warrant of authenticity, with the privilege to the printers Helders and Mars, dated "Amsteldam, den. 6 Augustus, 1783". STCN notes that some copies, like ours, have 2 additional folia: an illustrated typographical title page (with Pijpers's roundel portrait on a monument), dated "1783" in letterpress, but the engraving itself dated 1789, and a poem by Pieter Pijpers, entitled "Op Myne afbeelding", dated 1789. Apart from these extra leaves, our copy is embellished with 6 plates with scenes of the play from the original French edition of Marmontel's play, published in Paris, 1771, here all beautifully coloured, and with 3 extra plates by Dutch artists, probably made to illustrate a third edition; a second edition appeared in 1786.
Zémire and Azor was a comic opera in 4 acts composed by the Belgian composer André Grétry, with a French text by Jean François Marmontel (1723-1799), based on Jean Marie Prince de Beaumont's 1756 La belle et la bête and P.C. Nivelle de la Chaussé's 1742 Amour pour Amour. The opera was first performed on 9 November 1771, stayed in the French repertory until at least 1821 and enjoyed worldwide success. The story unfolds as follows:
After being shipwrecked, the "Persian" (probably Armenian) merchant Sander and his servant Ali find themselves in a strange palace. A banquet has been laid, though there is no sign of the owner, and the two help themselves to the feast. When Sander plucks a rose from the palace garden to give to his daughter Zémire, the beast-like Azor appears. He is the owner of the palace and says Sander must pay with his life for stealing the rose, unless he can persuade one of his daughters to take his place. When she hears what has happened, Zémire agrees to sacrifice her life for her father and Ali leads her to the palace, where she almost faints at the fearsome sight of Azor. However, Azor proves to be a kind host, showing Zémire her family in a magic mirror and even allowing her to visit home again so long as she promises to return. After a stay with her family, Zémire decides to return to Azor and finds him in despair because he believes she has abandoned him. She protests that she cares about him and the magic spell on Azor is lifted now he has found love. He changes from a beast to a handsome prince and claims his kingdom with Zémire at his side.
The Dutch poet and playwright Pieter Pijpers (1749-1805) from Amersfoort was a Roman Catholic in the Dutch Patriot party. He had to flee to Belgium after the Patriots' failed Democratic revolution of 1787, but was awarded many high positions after the Batavian revolution of 1795. He devoted himself to his literary work at his mansion Puntenburgh at Amersfoort.
With the circular morocco bookplate of P. May, with his interlaced monogram in gold, and the blind stamp of a private Dutch collection on the endpapers.

With generous margins and many deckles intact. In very good condition, with only occasional very minor spotting and a water stain in one of the blank guard leaves protecting the coloured plates. Corners bumped and back board rubbed. Desirable, extra-illustrated Dutch Beauty and the beast, incorporating lavishly coloured Dutch and French plates. Van Aken, Cat. Ned. Toneel II, p. 351 (mentioning only a title vignette); Moderne Encyclopedie van de Wereldliteratuur, vol. 7, p. 239; STCN (8 copies, only 3 with engr. title).