LAMBDA-]0 LIMIT OF 2-GRAVITY FOR ARBITRARY GENUS(1 QUANTUM)

The abstract quantum algebra of observables for 2 + 1 gravity is analy sed in the limit of small cosmological constant. The algebra splits in to two sets with an explicit phase space representation; one set consi sts of 6g - 6 commuting elements which form a basis for an algebraic m anifold defined by the trace and rank identities; the other set consis ts of 6g - 6 tangent vectors to this manifold. The action of the quant um mapping class group leaves the algebra and algebraic manifold invar iant. The previously presented representation for g = 2 is analysed in this limit and reduced to a very simple form. The symplectic form for g = 2 is computed.