Franco-American Dramatic Bulletin (Volume 1, No. 1)
Not specified (Likely edited by the Franco-American Dramatic Bulletin publishing team)
đź“š Genre
Periodical - Performing Arts, Drama, and Cultural News
🏢 Publisher
Franco-American Dramatic Bulletin (317 East 14th Street, New York)
đź“… Publication Year
1885
🔢 ISBN
N/A (Predates ISBN system; published 1885)
About This Book
This is a rare inaugural issue of a bilingual 19th-century bulletin focusing on the cultural exchange between French and American drama. The cover features an elaborate woodcut masthead depicting the Brooklyn Bridge, a steamship, and the Statue of Liberty. The central content of this issue, titled 'Our Gallery of Portraits: An Illustrious Family,' highlights French dramatic authors Émile Augier, Paul Déroulède, and Émile Guiard, including portraits and an extracted letter from Augier.
Book Details
Language
English and French (Bilingual publication)
Pages
Unknown (typically 4-12 pages for bulletins of this era)
Edition
First Edition, Volume 1, Number 1
Series
Volume 1, Number 1 of a monthly periodical
Target Audience
General Audience/Theater Enthusiasts/French Community in New York
Collector Information
Condition
Fair to Good. Visible horizontal and vertical fold lines with some associated wear and minor tearing at the creases. Some light foxing and yellowing consistent with age (139 years). The edges show minor fraying.
Estimated Value
$75.00 - $150.00
Rarity
Scarce to Rare. As a low-cost (5 cents) ephemeral bulletin published for a specific niche community, survival rates for such items are extremely low. It is likely that very few copies of the first issue exist outside of institutional archives like the New York Public Library or the Library of Congress.
Historical Significance
Historically significant as a record of late 19th-century immigrant journalism and the specific French-American cultural relations in the New York arts scene. It captures a moment of high cultural exchange just two years after the completion of the Brooklyn Bridge and one year before the dedication of the Statue of Liberty.
Collector Notes
Collectibility is driven by the 'No. 1' status and the historical masthead. Collectors of New York history, theater history, or French-Americana would find this highly desirable. To preserve, it should be stored in an acid-free, buffered archival sleeve and kept away from direct light to prevent further brittleness of the wood-pulp paper. The preservation of the fold lines is critical, as they are the most likely failure points.
Similar Books
The Theatre (Periodical) - Addison Bright; Spirit of the Times (Periodical) - George Wilkes; New York Clipper (Periodical) - Frank Queen
Notable Features
Inaugural issue (No. 1); features a rare 1885 woodcut of the Statue of Liberty (under construction/partial view) and the Brooklyn Bridge (completed 1883); bilingual text layout.