Signed title pages cut from books on dance, inscribed to Paul McMahon unless noted otherwise. In excellent condition unless noted otherwise. As follows: Read More...
Signed title pages and other leaves cut from books on dance, inscribed to Paul McMahon unless noted otherwise. In excellent condition unless noted otherwise. As follows: Read More...
Signed title of Balanchine's Complete Stories of the Great Ballets (Garden City, N.Y.: Doubleday, 1956). Cut from the book. 8.25 x 5.25 inches (20.8 x 13.3 cm). In fine condition. Read More...
Original photograph of the Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo's ballet master, shown assisting Ruthana Boris as she is lifted by Leon Daniellian. Some surface damage and creasing, otherwise good condition. 8 x 10 inches (20.3 x 25.4 cm.).
Signed halftone photograph of the great dancer and choreographer practicing in a ballet studio, apparently in character. Cut from an unidentified book. Signed in Latin script. 10.75 x 8 inches (27.2 x 20.2 cm). Read More...
Interesting and unusual original photograph, possibly of the Duncan dancers, shown in front of imposing large columns and performing in a group pose reminiscent of the sort of Greek vase illustrations which inspired Duncan's revolutionary choreography. Dated 1923 on the verso. Light creases, corners nicked, paper reinforcements and labels to verso, else fine condition. 8 x 10 inches (20.3 x 25.4 cm.). Read More...
New York: Knopf. 1966. First edition. 4to. (179), (1) pp. Text by LeRoy Leatherman and illustrated with photographs by Martha Swope. Inscribed by Martha Graham to her biographer and fellow dancer, Agnes de Mille, on title-page. Additionally inscribed by Lee and Swope on Dedication page. Publisher's brown cloth, stamped in gilt; in publisher's worn dust-jacket. An extraordinary association copy from the library of Graham's longtime friend, contemporary, and biographer, Agnes de Mille (1905-1993). Read More...
Rare original rehearsal photograph of the important choreographer, shown with her leg raised high while in discussion with an Elia Kazan. They worked together on Weill's One Touch of Venus in 1943 and the newspapers displayed in the photo refer to wartime, so it's likely it was taken around this time. Heavy creasing to corners and along upper edge, else fine condition. 10 x 8 inches (25.4 x 20.3 cm.).
Striking original photograph by the acclaimed photographer of the great dancer and choreographer, who has signed and inscribed (faintly) in ink to the lower right quadrant "For Paul / From / Francisco / April 1953." Stamped with photographer's credit to verso and from the same series of images of Moncion with this distinctive backdrop and as appear in such publications as "George Platt Lynes: Portrait 1927-1955" (Twin Palms Publishers, 1994). Somewhat low contrast to signature, light bumps to corners and edges, else fine. 7.75 x 9.45 inches (19.7 x 24 cm.). Read More...
Gelatin silver print, [November 20, 1944] depicting the dancers Francisco Moncion, Viola Essen and Kari Karnakoski in the ballet Sebastian with music by Gian Carlo Menotti and choreography by Edward Caton. 7.8 x 9.8 inches (20 x 25 cm). Photographer's notation in green ink "XIV.aa.1" beneath his credit wet stamp on verso ("Photograph by Carl Van Vechten / 101 Central Park West/ Cannot be Reproduced without Permission") and his raised blindstamp ("Photograph by Carl Van Vechten") lower right. Small pinholes and scratches along upper edge, else fine. Read More...
Unusual broadside program from a performance by the influential modern dance pioneers and their "Denishshawn Dancers." The music for this remarkable event was performed by the NY Philharmonic-Symphony Orchestra and took place at the Lewisohn Stadium. Horizontal fold, some toning, otherwise fine. 6.25 x 14.25 inches (15.8 x 36.2 cm).
Evocative and unusual doubleweight sepia photograph of the two great dancers standing together, ca. 1931. Diagonal crease to upper right, a few small creases, else fine. 7.75 x 9.75 inches (19.6 x 24.7 cm.) Read More...
Uncommon signed engraving of the famous Italian ballerina of the Romantic ballet era, a central figure in the history of European dance, depicted during a performance in her father's ballet, La Gitana. Taglioni has signed in ink to the lower right. Published by Bettini Lithography of Bologna, ca. 1842. Heavy fold creasing and foxing throughout, cropping at the lower margin, two hole punches to the upper margin; overall in very good condition. 12 x 19 inches (30.5 x 48.3 cm.). Read More...
Striking original 19th century albumen photograph of the Turkish Mevlevi Order of Sufi dervishes, known for their extreme poverty and austerity and for the whirling dance that is proverbially associated with Dervishes. Part of a formal ceremony known as the Sema, it is only one of the many Sufi ceremonies performed to try to reach religious ecstasy. A compelling composition of seven whirling dervishes, most likely from Turkey or Iran, wearing white outfits and with their arms raised, surrounded by black-robed figures standing and seated on decorative rugs, while an ensembple of musicians accompanies. A few minor stains and edge wear, glue-stained mounting strips on verso, else fine. 10.5 x 7.5 inches (26.7 x 19 cm).
Collection of 21 anonymous and almost certainly unpublished original glossy black-and-white photographs of musicians in performance at the historic 1957 Newport Jazz Festival. Artists depicted include Louis Armstrong (with his enormous birthday cake), Count Basie, Dave Brubeck, Chris Connor, Ella Fitzgerald, Earl Gardner, Dizzy Gillespie, Jimmy Giuffre Trio, Bobby Hackett, Billie Holiday, Stan Kenton, Stan Kenton's sax section, Eartha Kitt, Carmen McRay, Gerry Mulligan, Oscar Peterson Trio, Jimmy Rushing, Jack Teagarden, Sarah Vaughan, Teddy Wilson and others. Photos partially in landscape format, partially in portrait format. Names of artists in original captions are frequently misspelled. Contained in original improvised office-type metal clip binding between two cardstock covers, with calligraphic cover mounted to front board, cover text identifying the origin of the photographs as "The American Jazz Festival / Newport, R.I. [sic] / July 4,5,6,7 / 1957." 10 x 8 in (25.5 x 20.5 cm). Photographs generally in excellent condition, apart from edge where hole-punched for binding. Cover damp stained, partially detached and frayed. A remarkable record. Read More...
Ca. 2955 souvenir program of "Louis Armstrong And His Concert Group / Satchmo The Great" boldly signed in blue ink "Louis Armstrong" and in red "Barney Bigard" to the front cover and to their respective inside program portraits by Danny Barcelona, Mort Herbert, Billy Kyle and Trummy Young. Slightest toning around the edges, overall very fine. 9 x 12 inches.
Signed Capitol Records promotional photograph of the husband-and-wife songwriting team responsible for such smash hits as "Ain't No Mountain High Enough," "You're All I Need to Get By," and "Ain't Nothing Like the Real Thing." Inscribed, "Robert, / Thanks for the warm letters. / All the Best!" and the pair have signed, respectively, "Nick Ashford" and "+ Valerie Simpson" in blue ink to the upper left corner. Mounting remnants to verso and lower margin, otherwise in fine condition. 8 x 10 inches (20.3 x 25.4 cm.).