96

Until now, Molière’s bibliographers have had little information about the original edition of Sganarelle or The Imaginary Cuckold, the second of Molière’s comedies to be published surreptitiously, in 1660. It was unclear as to whether there were two different editions, as to how might be distinguished from each other, and as the one which preceded the other. Moreover, while the conflicting nature of the publication was known, there was no information as to where the search and seizure orders of 28 August 1660 might have been executed. Instead, the archives disclose where the printer Christophe Journel and the bookseller Jean Ribou had their businesses. The archaeological inquiry reveals that a first edition, published on 12 August 1660, was followed at the end of November by a second edition, entirely reworked, perhaps to comply with court orders. In each edition, the epistle “To Monsieur de Molier” was printed on the folio of sheet F, before being inserted in the first book of the comedy. This delicate operation meant that some copies were missing Molière’s dedication. Everyone now has the means to retrace the copies of Sganarelle that pass through their hands.