Thomas Clayton’s first opera, Arsinoe, Queen of Cyprus, premiered at Drury Lane in London on 16 January 1705. The opera initially enjoyed success, but two years later, Clayton’s second opera was not well-received. Part of Arsinoe’s popularity may have been due to Catherine Tofts' portrayal of the title character; Toft would later become a star of the English stage.

André Campra’s Tancrède, which premiered on 7 November 1702, is his best-known tragédie en musique, with a run of performances until 1764, and high praise by noteworthy music personalities such as Rameau. While the music critic La Cerf de la Viéville wrote positive comments about Tancrède, he was bothered by the opera’s use of low voices, which defied the tradition of employing castrati parts. Additionally, the role of Clorinda was written for a well-known contralto named Mademoiselle Maupin; although the range is that of a mezzo-soprano, the powerful quality of Maupin’s voice seemed to be a prime consideration for Campra.

This a copy of vol. 2 of an anthology of French songs compiled by Christophe Ballad, music publisher of King Louis XIV. The work consists mainly of unaccompanied melodies with underlaid text for selected acts of the following tragedies: Proserpine (pp. 1-19); Le triomphe de l'amour (pp. 20-60); Persée (pp. 61-81); Phaeton (pp. 62-94); Amadis (pp. 95-125); Roland (pp. 126-155); Armide (pp. 169-176); Acis et Galatée (pp. 177-192). It contains also melodies for "Ballet du temple de la Paix" (pp. 156-168), and Vaudevilles on rondes de table (pp. 193-264). Two previous editions, compiled by Monsieur Ribon, published under title: Parodies bachiques. Cf. RISM, v. B I, 1 1695(4) and 1696(1), present ed. listed as 1700(3).

This map shows the Mississippi River Valley and Gulf of Mexico as well as the surrounding areas. Inland bodies of water are labeled and villages (found by La Salle during explorations) are marked pictorially. There are illustrations of people fighting around the title.

This map shows the country of Mexico and the surrounding areas. Countries are outlined in color; major cities, bodies of water and geographic features are marked (with relief shown pictorially) as well as colored symbols that appear to mark churches or missions. Dotted lines mark territories within Mexico. A color illustration of native people is in the lower left corner, near the text boxes containing the title and other information.

Map shows cities, rivers, and regions of early eighteenth century New Spain and California. Includes index. Relief shown pictorially. Scale [1:12,000,000].

Map shows cities and towns along the "Western Ocean" [Atlantic] coasts of Europe, North America, the Caribbean Islands, South America, and Africa. Scale not given.

Map shows grid lines, leading lines, rocky areas, anchorages, sandbanks, settlements along the coast, and place names along the early eighteenth century "Bay of Mexico" coastline. Depths shown by soundings. Inset: "Entrance of the River Mesashebe or Misehisipi" [Mississippi River]. Scale statement reads "English and French Leagues, 20 in a degree."

Map shows coastline of Africa, Europe, and the Middle East from the Strait of Gibraltar to the coast of Syria. Includes illustrated title cartouche. Index to ports and islands. Sheets have 35 cm. overlap. Relief shown by hachures. Scale not given.

Map shows southern and eastern portions of North America, Central America, the northeast coast of South America, the Caribbean islands, and California (depicted as an island). Includes illustrations of animals, birds, plants, and sea creatures in subtitle cartouche and dispersed across map; global hemisphere atop title. Relief shown pictorially. Scale not given.

Accompanying map text titled: "Description de la decouverte du Missisipi" [Description of the discovery of the Mississippi].

Map shows early eighteenth century detail of the mouth of the Mississippi River and locations of settlements along the North American coasline of the Gulf of Mexico. Locations of Native American villages found by La Salle during his explorations of the coastal areas are also indicated. No scale noted.

Eighteenth century Stiegel type paneled glass flip; with copper wheel engraving in vesica and dot design; rough pontil mark; 18th c.

Map shows geography, settlements, and areas of Native American habitation in early eighteenth century North America, South America, and West Indies. Relief shown pictorially. Scale [ca. 1:23,000,000].

Map shows the route of the Spanish fleet between Veracruz and Havana; possessions of Spain, England, France and Holland; boundaries, cities, settlements, islands and coastlines for the Gulf of Mexico. Shows port of Vera Cruz [?], sea battle, mining, indigenous tribes, and traders in illustration. Includes illustration and notes. Relief shown pictorially. Scale not given.

Map shows cities and provinces of New Spain, Cuba, Florida and the Gulf coast, tip of Baja California; areas of Native American habitation. Relief shown pictorially. Scale not given.

Map shows major cities, political divisions for South America and southern and eastern portions of North America; California as an island. Includes notes, dates, and illustrated title cartouche depicting indigenous peoples and birdseye view of settlement with windmills, small illustrations of sailing vessels. Relief shown pictorially. Scale not given.

Map shows known extent of North America and the West Indies; "English plantations," "Florida", "New Mexico or New Granada," "Mexico or New Spain"; California as an island; Great Lakes as: Traci or Upper L. Illinois L., Huron L., Erie L. or Cats L., Ontario L. or Frontenac; missions and settlements. Includes table of abbreviations, notes and dates of discoveries. Relief shown pictorially. Scale not given.

Map shows settlements, areas of Native American habitation, routes of travel, mining activity, and "limits" of the South Sea Company; California, New Mexico, and Florida, New Spain, and all of South America with some political divisions. Includes notes and dedication cartouche. Insets: "A Chart from England to the River Ara-noca &c," "Peypses or Pepys I., p. 24.," "A Map of ye Straits of Magellan &c., page 27.," "A Map of the Isthmus of Darien The Bay of Panama &c., p. 136.," "The Gallapagos Islands, p. 119.," "The Island of Juan Ferdinando, p. 69.," "The Gulf of Nicoya or Gulf of Salinas, p. 130.," "The Gulf of Amapalla or Fonesca, p. 180," and "The Port of Acapulco." Relief shown pictorially. Depths by soundings. Scale [ca. 1:27,000,000].

Map shows major cities, political boundaries, and physical features of six continents; incomplete coastlines of North America, Nouvelle Hollande [Australia], and northeast Asia; coastline of Nouvelle Guinee [New Guinea] and Nouvelle Hollande are shown to be contiguous. Includes dates and routes of exploration. Relief shown pictorially. No scale indicated.

Map shows known continent geography, cities, political boundaries, and place names. Inset: [North Polar view]. Scale [ca. 1:45,000,000].

This three-act opera is to a libretto by Joseph Addison. Content is printed only on the recto side of each leaf. The score features two title pages: the first, with an engraving and small print describing the contents; the second, with large font. The work opens with a three-part "symphony or overture" for an ensemble of unspecified instrumentation: two treble instruments and one bass instrument. The indication "with Violins" on some the songs suggests the nature of the high instruments. No figures are included on the bass line. All the songs are followed, on the same page, by a version of the vocal line for flute.

This item comprises two books of secular cantatas for soprano (indicated by the consistent use of the soprano clef in the vocal line), obbligato strings and winds, and (unrealized) basso continuo. The first book was printed in 1706; the second, in 1708. Since the two volumes were bound together, the later date is used for this item. The subtitle for the first volume indicates "a voix seule avec symphonies" while the subtitle for the second volume gives "a voix seule et basse-continue, avec et sans symphonies."

"Prodromus Musicalis" (published in 1702) is bound, here, with "Motets à une et deux voix, mélez de symphonies, livre premier" (1704); thus, the latter gate is used for this item as a unit. Both sets of motets consist of Latin-texted music preceded by a title page in French. A Table of Contents either at the front or back of each collection describes the motets contained therein. Content is printed on both sides of each leaf. "Prodromus" also has a note from Brossard informing the reader that a Dictionary of Music, published at the same time as "Prodomus," contains French translations of Italian, Greek, and Latin terms, knowledge of which is vital to the understanding and performance of the present music. The contents of "Prodromus" are as follows: "Ave vivens hostia," "O Jesu quam dulce," "Congratulamini filiae Sion," "O vos aetherei," "Festivi martyres" "Angele sancte" "Sonitus armorum," "Quemadmodum desiderat," and "O plenus irarum dies." "Motets à une et deux voix" contains the following pieces: "Venite exultemus," "Gaudete Mortales," "Ad mensam caelitus paratam," "Ave Regina coelorum," "Animae Amantes ad Deum esurientes," "Ite gemmae, Ite flores," "Anxiatus est super me spiritus meus," "Festivi Martyres, festivae Virgines," "Nisi Dominus aedificaverit domum."