Gouache and watercolor over pencil on paper laid down on board. Inscribed in Russian (upper left and lower left) and with a collector's stamp (lower right). 16.5 x 10.4 inches (41.9 x 26.4 cm). Matted and framed to 37 x 54 cm. Read More...
New York: Gertrude Hoffmann Company. 1911. Rare souvenir program for the 1911 American tour which was the first performance of the Ballets Russes repertory in America. Billed as “Miss Gertrude Hoffmann Announces Les Ballets Russes,” the program features a lushly printed cover illustration, writings about various dances and dancers accompanied by halftone photographs and drawings. 24 pp. Original cord binding. Wear to outer edges of original wrappers, overall in fine condition. 9.75 x 12.5 inches (24.8 x 31.8 cm.). Read More...
Color lithograph of one of Masson's 1932 designs for the Ballets Russes symphonic ballet Les Présages . Unnumbered and unsigned, from an edition of 100, ca. 1976. Published by Art Conseil, France. 19.75 x 20 inches. In fine condition. Read More...
Berlin; Moscou; St. Pétersbourg: Édition Russe de Musique (Russischer Musikverlag G.M.B.H.). 1913. First edition. Upright folio. 1f., 89pp [PN] 196. Hardcover. Wrappers mounted over tan buckram boards. Corners of boards nicked, tape affixed to lower spine, two small holes to the half title, else clean and in a good state. DeLerma S3, p. 80. CPM 54 p.444; Kirchmeyer: "Kommentiertes Verzeichnis Der Werke & Werkausgaben Igor Strawinskys bis 1971," pp.115-126. The first edition of the corrected version, published within a year of the first version. The full score was not published until 1921. Read More...
Profusely illustrated 1929 program for the Opera Privé de Paris production of “Prince Igor” by Borodine. 9.5 x 12.5 inches. 28 pp. Nine tipped-in color plates, including a portrait of its star singer, Maria Kousnetzoff; and, by Konstantin Korovine, six character costumes and two stage sets. The color cover is by J. Bilibine. Also included are full-page portraits of Madame Alexandra Balachova and of baritone Michel Benois, as well as many smaller photographs of other participants such as orchestra director Emil Cooper and choreographer-dancer Michel Fokine (who, a few years later, developed the famous Ballet based on Prince Igor). The center pages somewhat loose from the staples, edges slightly chipped, but complete and overall in very good condition. Read More...
A beautiful bound volume of special issues and supplements to the Parisian theatrical periodical Comoedia Illustré chronicling the 1909–1921 seasons of the Ballets Russes, with many photographs and full-color illustrations relating to the legendary ballet company. A selection of souvenir programs (published as supplements to the magazine) and extracts from the magazine are arranged in chronological order; interspersed leaves with texts by V. Svetloff (Russian critic and biographer of Anna Pavlova) give further details of each year's productions. Ownership inscription of Osborne Robinson and exhibition loan details on front free endpaper, some marginal dust-soiling, original green silk-covered boards with pictorial inlay (from The Firebird) by Natalia Goncharova, rebacked in green morocco, modern cloth. Graphically interesting endpapers covered in the names of important Ballets Russes figures. Most pages unnumbered; over 200 pp. total. Four leaves with clipped and mounted prints and hand-written captions appear to be the addition of the previous owner, and are partially detached; binding otherwise sound. Binding somewhat sunned, with later restored spine and slipcase. Overall in fine condition. 10.25 x 13.5 inches (26 x 34 cm). Read More...
A intriguing group of three ballooning flyers advertising the United Kingdom's most famous balloonist of the 19th century. Experimenting with coal gas as a cheaper and more readily available alternative to hydrogen for lifting power, Green's first ascent was in a coal gas balloon on 19 July 1821 and he had made 200 ascents by 1835. In 1836, he set a major long distance record in the balloon Royal Vauxhall, flying overnight from Vauxhall Gardens in London to Weilburg, Duchy of Nassau (Germany), a distance of 480 miles (770 km). By the time he retired in 1852, he had flown in a balloon more than 500 times. The present broadsides are all very rare, with only a few recorded similar examples in WorldCat. As follows: Read More...
Paris: Chez Cuchet. 1783. First, 1st issue. 8vo. 19.5x12.5 cm (7¾x5"). [i-iii] iv-xl, [1] 2-299, [3], 9 engraved plates (plate v as frontispiece). Contemporary full vellum with five raised bands, pages edged in red. With the ownership signature “Dutillet” to the inside front board in a contemporary hand, raising the intriguing possibility that this copy hails from the family of Évrard Titon du Tillet (1677-1762), great patron of the arts and secretary to Louis XIV, whose family mansion “La Folie Titon” was the sight of the first tethered balloon flight on October 19th, 1783 (Réveillon, de Rozier and de Villette). A later ownership signature “Allonneaud” in pencil, on the blank recto of the frontis engraving. A few pages slightly irregularly cut, including one partially separating from the gutter, else fine. References: Dibner, Heralds of Science 179; PMM 229; Norman 769; Sparrow, Milestones of Science 179; Tissandier p.21. Read More...
Exuberant original 1963 candid photograph of the stunning Natalie Wood, the incredible Jerome Robbins and the magnificent Anne Bancroft. This photograph was taken backstage after the opening of "Mother Courage" which starred Miss Bancroft. 7 x 9 inches, clipping on the verso, slight bend along right edge.
Signed 20th Century-Fox Player promotional photograph of the American actress, who has boldly inscribed "To Paul / Anne Bancroft" in black ink. In very fine condition. 10 x 8 inches (25.4 x 20.3 cm.). Read More...
19023. [Banjo] Harris, Harry C.. "The Banjo. An Original Imitation of this Inimitable Instrument, for the Piano"
Philadelphia: Lee & Walker. 1857. Upright folio. 4 pp. Engraved throughout, featuring graphically striking illustration of the banjo on the cover. Pages fully separated along spine, upper right corner perished, three short horizontal tears, else fine. 9 x 13.25 inches (22.9 x 33.6 cm.).
Signed promotional photograph of the American actress in the 1953 MGM comedy Main Street to Broadway, a film that featured contemporary Broadway stars such as Bankhead playing exaggerated versions of their public personas. Embossed National Screen Service stamp to lower right corner, stamp reading "4 May 27 53" to verso. Moderate edgewear, else in fine condition. 10 x 8 inches (25.4 x 20.3 cm.). Read More...
Boldly penned AMQS from the popular English composer. Four measures from an unidentified work in B minor, marked "Con Anima" and "mf espress[ivo]" and signed "Granville Bantock." On a small paper measuring 11 x 5.5 cm. Scarce.
Amusing concert program for an 1889 concert of sacred music at the Baptist Meeting House in Newton Upper Falls, Massachusetts, written throughout in a precious "ye olde English" style. The concert took place "on ye evening of Thursday, May 9, 1889 at earlie candle lighte, wh occurs by ye Olde Farmers' Almanack, and not ye new fangled time, at 7.45 of ye clocke... For a true and faithful chronicle of all ye events wh will then come to pass, see ye lyst wh is in ye middle of ye booke [etc., etc.]" 16 pp. Original green wrapper with some edge nicks; overall toning; otherwise in very good condition. 7.5 x 10 inches (19 x 26 cm).
Newark: Rising Tide. [1990]. First. 8vo., 16 pp. black wrappers lettered in pink, orange and blue, stapled, as issued; minor soiling. First edition, first printing (not to be confused with the more commonly seen xeroxed edition with silver wrappers). A remarkable presentation copy, inscribed: "For Marlene / Be Everything We Need / Amiri Baraka, '91," on the front pastedown.
10125. Barber, Samuel. (1910–1981). Collection of privately issued and limited edition recordings of Barber, some inscribed
Nineteen rare gramophone recordings, privately issued, some from broadcasts (some probably unique), several with autograph writing or inscribed, twelve of which are contained in a worn cloth record binder stamped "Samuel Barber Compositions," including of Barber as baritone, accompanying himself performing: Brahms, "Der Gang zum Liebchen", "Der Tod, das ist die kühle Nacht"; Schubert, "Der Jüngling an der Quelle"; Schumann, "In der Fremde"; Mendelssohn, "Ist es wahr?"; C.P.E. Bach "Nonnelied", and Tuscan, English, Kentucky and Tyrolean folk-songs: all at the Curtis Institute, 26 Dec[ember 19]38, 4 records, privately issued, 78 RPM. Read More...
Press Photograph of the former First Lady and the American composer attending a performance at The Metropolitan Opera House. Caption above image reads in part "The two will attend the Met's 125th Anniversary performance." Stamp to verso dated December 8, 1967. Printed in low contrast sepia for publication mockup, overall good. 10 x 8 inches (25.4 x 20.3 cm.). Read More...
Original press photograph ca. 1971 showing the important American composer looking over a score with the conductor of the Philadelphia Orchestra and the chair of the Girard bank of Philadelphia, which had commissioned a new work by Barber for the orchestra. The resulting work, The Lovers (op.43), is scored for baritone, chorus, and orchestra and based on texts of Pablo Neruda. A crisp image in very fine condition. 8 x 10 inches; 25.3 x 20.5 cm.
Printed bifold 1962 invitation to the Birthday Party of British-American poet W.H. Auden, addressed in Auden's hand to "Mr. Samuel Barber" at the head in ink and annotated by Barber in pencil with musical rhythms and some calculations on the verso, the inside being blank and thus easily displayed open so both sides are visible. In fine condition, a remarkable association. From the collection of Barber's close friend Manfred Ibel. Read More...
Original certificate awarding the important American composer the Governor's Citation of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Dated September 22, 1971 and signed by Governor Milton J. Shapp and Secretary of the Commonwealth C. Delores Tucker. Born in West Chester, Pennsylvania, Barber studied at the Curtis Institute in Philadelphia and maintained a close link to the city throughout his life. The composer's name is hand-lettered and a gold seal with purple ribbons is affixed at the foot. One slight chip to the edge and mounting remnants on the verso; overall in fine condition. 11 x 14 inches (28 x 35.7 cm).