1765 Manuscript, Swiss baroque theatre, with printed title and description, fine frontispiece

Margarita / Aus dem Meer der tiefesten Finteruss an das Leicht der Warheit erhobenes Lilien - weisses Roeselein aus der Doerneren hervor gewachsenes Perlein, Glanzet wie Edelgestein, Ein kleines Madeleines, aber grosse Heldin, unueberwindliche Besigerin heydnischer Abgoetterey, / Und in den Laurus ihres Lebens undgehinderte Jungfrau und Martyrin, besonders / Ein allgemeine Nothelfferin aller Betrangten, nunmehr maechtigste Schuss-Patroenin Loeblicher Pfarr Rickenbach, Ihr Leben und Leiden zu einem Trauer-Spiel Auf offentlicher Schau-Buehne vorgestellt, / Bey verhoftem Guten Wetter den 5. 12. und 19. Mayen, so amber das Wetter nit guenstig, die naechste Sonn- Oder Feyrtaeg darauf.

Lucern [Lucerne], gedruckt bey Jost Frantz Wysing, Stadt-Buchdrn, 1765.

(20.7 x 16 cm). Printed title page with 3 leaves of printed text. Frontispiece is a fine contemporary hand coloured engraving of Saint Margarita. [108] pages of manuscript including the play, a description of the roles and a short history of the life of Saint Margarita. Bound in contemporary patterned boards. Rubbed and worn, some staining throughout, rear hinge loose, well read with dog-eared leaves and minor horizontal tear to first few pages.

No copy in KVK (including Swiss libraries) or OCLC. Unique in this form with extensive manuscript description, possibly director’s copy. Fascinating insight into a Swiss public baroque theatre production for the parish of Rickenbach in the diocese of Basel. Indeed the play appears to be a loose representation of the rather fantastical hagiography of Margaret the Virgin, who is patron saint of the parish church. An exceedingly scarce item with the printed program bound in and a wonderful engraved portrait of Margaret coloured and adapted in size to work as a frontispiece.