Signed postcard photograph of the legendary dancer and singer, who is shown in one of her trademark extravagant feathered costumes, and has signed across the image: "Souvenir de Josephine Baker / 1932." Fine. 3.5 x 5.5 inches (8.9 x 14 cm).
Large format signed photograph of the American-born French entertainer, French Resistance agent, and civil rights activist who became a symbol of the decadent Jazz Age and played a leading role in the advancement of African Americans in the arts. A luminous image of the entertainer with her hands and arms artfully placed across her bare body, vintage glossy 6.5 x 8.5 photo by Studio Piaz of Paris, signed and inscribed in fountain pen, "A Monsieur Emile Dretinier, en souvenir de Josephine Baker, Paris, 1933.” In very good to fine condition, with trimmed edges, tack holes to the corners, light silvering, and mottled foxing. Baker's response to her own nudity: 'I wasn't really naked. I simply didn't have any clothes on.'
Vintage 8 x 10 inch doubleweight original photograph of the great singer/dancer "in a happy good mood when she arrives at London airport" in 1959. Fine.
Baker was most noted as a singer, while in her early career she was a celebrated dancer. She was given the nicknames the "Black Venus" or the "Black Pearl", as well as the "Créole Goddess" in anglophone nations, while in France she has always been known in the old theatrical tradition as "La Baker."
Signed vintage sepia Walery postcard photograph of the legendary African American entertainer. A full length portrait, boldly signed and inscribed in blue ink in 1937. 9 x 14 cm. Baker's death year of 1975 written in ink in the lower border (obviously in another hand), otherwise fine. Read More...
Striking vintage doubleweight glossy portrait of Baker posing beside a tiger skin rug, signed and inscribed in French in fountain pen, “à Mr Mario Mariotti / en souvenir de / Josephine Baker / Milano / 1932.” Some losses to edges and a small area at her extended wrist, but the imposing image is largely unaffected and it is otherwise in fine condition. 6.5 x 9.3 inches (16.5 x 23.6 cm.). Read More...
Autograph letter from the Russian painter and scene and costume designer, known for his extensive work for the Ballets Russes. 1 p. June 21, 1915. To architect and art critic Frantz Jourdain (1847–1935), Bakst writes (translated from the French): "Dear maître, I am very touched by your kind letter and thank you sincerely. I will act according to your advice. Until then, please believe my devoted and cordial sentiments. Leon Bakst." In very fine condition. 4.5 x 7 inches (11.3 x 17.3 cm).
Paris: Imprimerie Modern Style. P. Marmy. Oversize elaborate printed invitation to the 1911 Bal des Quat'z'Arts. The design by the French painter, illustrator and decorator H. Rapin, featuring a highly stylized illustration on Babylonian themes. 19 x 33 cm. Dampstained along the lower edge, left edge and upper margin chipped with a few small losses, else fine. Read More...
Original candid photograph of the choreographer known as the father of American ballet, boldly signed in blue ink with his name alone. "George Balanchine / April / 1944" written to verso in an unknown hand, presumably that of the photographer. In very fine condition. 4.5 x 3.25 inches (11.4 x 8.2 cm.). Signed photographs of Balanchine from this period are uncommon. Read More...
Signed photograph of the choreographer known as the father of American ballet. Stamp to lower margin reads "Nov. 27 1973." In very fine condition. 8 x 10 inches (20.3 x 25.4 cm).
Original photograph of the choreographer known as the father of American ballet and the great composer in discussion during a 1957 rehearsal for Agon. Various stamps on the verso, including for the later New York City Ballet Stravinsky festival in 1972. In very fine condition, together with a printed NYCB Press Office photograph mailer, ca. 1972. 8 x 10 inches (20.3 x 25.4 cm.). Read More...
Hollywood, CA: Eternity Music. May, 1971. First. Large format published facsimile manuscript orchestral score for the ballet "PAMTGG" (Pan Am Makes the Going Great), inscribed by the composer to the father of American ballet in red ink above the printed dedication opposite the first page of music, "Dear George, I can never thank you enough for giving me the opportunity to work with you. It has been the purest and most rewarding experience of my life - working with you and for you. with love, Roger Kellaway." 137 pp, approximately 19 pages with minor annotations (musical notation, "Dancer --->" and other cues, instrumentation etc.) in same red ink. Textured black paper wrappers, plastic comb binding, 19.5"h x 14"w. Pages somewhat toned, plastic comb somewhat worn, overall very fine. Read More...
New York: A Theatre of Being. 1964. Scarce souvenir program from the 1964 production of Baldwin's The Amen Corner, which would briefly transfer to Broadway the following year. 32 pp. The cover features striking artwork rendered in yellow and black, and the program contains production photographs together with interviews of both the playwright and Frank Silvera, who directed and produced. Light wear to spine and top edge, some toning throughout; overall fine. 10 x 12 inches (25.4 x 30.5 cm.). Read More...
Grouping of three original ca. 1910 postcard photographs of ballet dancers in costume for various unidentified productions, issued in Florence, London, and Moscow. Minimal edge and corner wear, silvering to top half of one postcard, else fine. Approx.3.5 x 5.5 inches (8.8 x 13.5 cm.) each.
A striking sepia-toned photo of Ballet Español Ximénez-Vargas, signed by all six members, including Roberto Ximénez and Manolo Vargas, the Flamenco dancers who founded the ensemble in 1955. A number of small creases and surface creases, particularly along the lower edge, otherwise fine. 8 x 10 inches (20.3 x 25.4 cm)
Hand-colored glossy Rotary Foulsham & Banfield of London postcard photograph signed by the great Russian dancers who are shown in a striking back-to-back pose. Unrelated message written to verso, dated 22 August 1913. In fine condition. 3.5 x 5.5 inches (8.9 x 14 cm.). Read More...
Incredible signed photograph of three members of the great Messerer/Plisetsky ballet dynasty rehearsing together, including Soviet ballerina and choreographer Maya Plisetskaya posing with her younger brother Azari and an unidentified second male dancer under the direction of Maya and Azari's uncle, Bolshoi ballet master Asaf Messerer. All four individuals have signed their names in black ink. Mounting remnants to verso, else in very fine condition. 10 x 8 inches (25.4 x 20.3 cm.). Read More...
Ballet Russes de Monte Carlo souvenir program, signed by dancers Alexandra Danilova, Nina Novak, Frederic Franklin (who has signed three different photographs!) and Gerard Leavitt. 68 pp. Fine. 9 x 12 inches (22.9 x 30.5 cm.).
15586. [Ballets Russes]. Original 1936–37 American Season Program
Original souvenir program from the 4th American season (1936–37) of Col. W. de Basil's Ballets Russes de Monte-Carlo, featuring a striking color cover illustration of a knight by Natalia Gontcharova. The contents include photographs of stars and conductors including Leonine Massine, Lubov Tchernicheva, David Lichine, Antal Dorati, Efrem Kurts, and others; an 8-page color section with costume and set designs by Gontcharova, Cecil Beaton, Picasso, Leon Bakst, Raoul Dufy, and others; and a final 3-page section showing the dancers on tour—building sandcastles and engaging in various other more frivolous forms of entertainment. 64 pp. Wrapper detached from the block; edge wear to the cover; internally fine and overall in very good condition. 9.75 x 12.25 inches (24.5 x 31 cm). Read More...
15588. [Ballets Russes]. Souvenir Serge De Diaghileff's BALLET RUSSE - Original 1916 Tour Program
Original 1916 souvenir program from the first American tour of the Ballet Russe, featuring a cover illustration of Nijinsky in Scheherezade by Robert Montenegro and many full-color costume designs and other illustrations by Leon Bakst and others. The contents also include a photographs of Nijinsky in Spectre de la Rose, Bakst's Nijinsky as Faun, Adolf Bolm, Flore Revalles, and groups of dancers in Scheherezade, Prince Igor, and L'Après-Midi d'un Faune; ballet descriptions, an itinerary, and advertisements. Pages are of thick ivory uncoated paper, cover is thick mottled grey paper, with embossed gold art and letters. This is the more desirable variant of this program in that it features the superb illustration of Nijinsky in Scheherezade by Robert Montenegro on the cover; the tour program is more commonly found with a different cover illustration. Wrappers unfortunately mostly detached, with some losses to the cover; internal block intact with decorative cord binding; overall in good condition. 36 pp. 9.25 x 12.25 inches (23.2 x 31.2 cm).
Three Leon Bakst Satin and Rayon Hooded Capes from "Papillons," ca. 1914. In fine condition, formerly property of The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York. Read More...