Ballet Memorabilia & Collectibles

Collection of special issues of the theatrical periodical "Comoedia Illustré" and souvenir programs devoted to Ballets Russes and Rubinstein's Galas Russes for the seasons 1909-1921, with introductory letterpress text for each season by V. Svetloff. With splendid color and gilt illustrations of costume and set designs, as well as numerous photographic portraits of dancers and production artists. Published by De Brunoff, Maurice, & Jacques de Brunoff, editors. M. de Brunoff, Paris, 1922. Profusely illustrated with full color covers, mounted and full-page plates, and photographs, AMAZING ballet illustrations from the period. 187 leaves, bound and stored in a case. An outstanding visual record of Diaghilev's Ballets Russes and Ida Rubinstein's Galas Russes in their most influential years, lavishly illustrated with the works of Bakst, Gontcharova, Larionov, Picasso, Matisse, Massine, Derain, and others.   Bakst is the most frequently represented artist in the group; the illustration inlaid to the upper cover is by Natalia Gontcharova. Original cloth, with inlaid illustrated upper cover from "The Firebird" by Natalia Gontcharova. Covers and spine rubbed and soiled, internally fine, but lacking cover for Ballets Russes program from May 1921 featuring Picasso illustration on recto and verso. Signed on first blank page by one of the editors (Jacques de Brunoff) and American dancer, teacher and dance writer Lillian Moore (1911-1967) who owned it. Size is 10.5 x 13.3 inches, 1.25 inches thick, hardcovers, damage on spine, which is mostly missing, with some lose pages but complete, otherwise in very good condition. Comes in a luxury cardboard case to protect it. See some sample photos.

Group of 9 playbills announcing upcoming performances of ballet, folklore and modern dance by the Bolshoi Ballet, Kirov Ballet, National Ballet of Canada and others. All playbills are printed in one sheet on both sides. Various sizes ranging from 6 x 9 inches to 7 x 11 inches, all in excellent condition.

French dancer (1843-?). Original stereoscopic card with her photograph. Size is 6.6 x 3.25 inches, in excellent condition.

Serge Diaghilev´s Ballet Russe souvenir program, dark covers, with Diaghilev´s painting (by Leon Bakst) opposite to title page. With many illustrations of designs by Bakst, performances during the 1916 season at the Metropolitan Opera, 9 x 12 inches. Full program with all pages and covers, lose covers, cracks on them, but the program itself is in excellent condition.

American (1877-1927) dancer and choreographer, who was a pioneer of modern contemporary dance, and performed to great acclaim in Europe and the U.S. Short mini-book "The Dance" authored by her, with many pictures and facsimiles of programs of her performances, published by The Forest Press, N.Y., 1989.  Size is 8.75 x 11.5 inches, semi-hard covers, 29 pages, some wear on both covers, inside in excellent condition.  

Photograph book, published by the American photographer, author and editor. Book contains 26 real photos (cibachrome A2 color photos and black and white silhouettes printed by the author) mounted on pages, opposite to text and images also printed on luxurious linen paper, 70 pages bound with red, leather-bound hardcovers. Photographs show dancers from the Kirov Ballet and were taken between 1982 and 1989 Printed in Greece in 2014, only 10 copies were made, size 10 x 14.25 inches, in excellent condition. 

Austrian ballerina (1810-1884) who introduced theatricalized folk dance into ballet; celebrated for her spirited, spectacular dancing and technique. Original doily (ornamental mat made of paper usually) depicting the ballerina in "La Cachucha". Size is 2.5 x 2.5 inches, in very good condition.

Russian ballerina (1886-1958); and groundbreaking Imperial Russian choreographer and dancer (1880-1942). Cast page (only) for a performance of the married couple with the American Ballet Company at the Metropolitan Opera House on December 30, 1919.  Size is 6.75 x 10 inches, in excellent condition.

British ballet dancer (1919-1991), considered by many one of the greatest dancers of the 20th century. Set of 35 unsigned photographs of Fonteyn shown in performance and as herself, few of them are stamped by the photographer on verso. Various sizes range from 3.4 x 5 inches to 7.75 x 9 inches, all in excellent condition. SOLD ONLY AS A LOT, NOT SOLD SEPARATELY.

English star ballerina (1919-1991). English ballerina (1910-2004), choreographer, and director. Beautiful set of 6 photographs of portraits of the dancers by the American artist Lisa Rhana (1902-1985). Size is 7.5 x 9.6 inches approximately each, in excellent condition. SOLD ONLY AS A LOT.

Russian ballet dancer (1938-1993) and English prima ballerina (1919-1991). Set of 5 unsigned photographs featuring the two star ballet dancers shown in "Paradise Lost". Two color photographs are 7 x 4.9 inches in size, two black-and-white photographs are 9 x 7.1 inches, ink-stamped on verso by photographer John Blomfield (London); 1 black-and-white photograph ink-stamped on verso by photographer Judy Cameron (New York), size is 8 x 9.9 inches. SOLD TOGETHER, NOT SOLD SEPARATED.

English ballerina (1919-1991). Ukrainian ballet teacher (1907-1998). Beautiful black-and-white photograph featuring the two artists in a social meeting; ink-stamped on verso by photographer Vladimir Sladon, New York, 1969. Size is 9.8 x 7.9 inches, mounting traces on verso, in very good condition.

British ballet dancer (1919-1991), considered by many one of the greatest dancers of the 20th century. Set of 2 black-and-white and 2 sepia photographs of the famous ballerina; 2 of them ink-stamped on verso by Maurice Seymour, Chicago; and Dwight Godwin. Size is 8 x 10.1 inches approximately each one, in excellent condition.

French ballet dancer from the XIX century. Vintage colorized lithograph from the 1850s depicting G. French as "Harlequin" by James Redington, mounted on cardboard. Total size is 7.3 x 8.9 inches, minor stains, in excellent condition.

Program for a gala performance at The Miami Beach Theatre of Performing Arts in 1983 of "The Nutcracker" and other works by the star Russian dancer, signed by him on the front cover. Size is 8.4 x 11 inches, full program with all pages and covers, in excellent condition.

Program for a performance of Adam's ballet "Giselle" at the Miami Beach Theatre of Performing Arts, on April 5th, 1984, signed and inscribed on the front cover by the star dancer.  Program is also signed inside by the dancer Stephanie Saland.  Size is 8.4 x 11 inches, full program with all pages and covers, in excellent condition.

Monaco-born ballet dancer (1924-1998). Set of six unsigned photographs depicting him in rehearsal or performance. Various sizes: 8.25 x 11.75 inches (2, by Fayer -Vienna), 6.9 x 9.3 inches (3, by Fayer, Vienna), and 8.75 x 5.25 inches (1, and ink-stamped on verso by photographer Harry Weber, Vienna); all in excellent condition. SOLD TOGETHER, NOT SOLD SEPARATELY.

American modern dancer (1894-1991) and choreographer, who reshaped American dance. Interesting brochure with documentation with information related to broadcasting, biographies, and schedules of performances for Press releases.  Size is 8.9 x 11.8 inches, some wear on the binding, inside in excellent condition.

Season program for the Grand Ballet du Marquis de Cuevas company listing all the ballet performances for the 1951 season, including pictures of some of the performers.  Size is 8.3 x 10.6 inches, central fold, otherwise in very good condition. ALSO INCLUDED are two playbills for performances at the Theatre de L'Empire, Paris, May 1951 (one of them with lipstick markings). Size is 6.1 x 9.6 inches each, in excellent condition.

German-born photographer (1878-1972), considered one of the most important portrait and documentary photographers of his time. Set of 14 original prints from his major publication "Studies from the Russian Ballet" from 1913 (the work comprised originally 15 prints), no original box included. The plates are made of heavy card with mounted rotogravures, 9.5 x 13.8 inches in size, unbound, minor stains and overall aging, but all in overall very good condition. Very rare!

Famous Polish dancer and ballet master (1894-1977). Rare ballet book about him, a thin volume published in a limited edition of 350 numbered copies (this is copy #333), with six visual art works, twelve photographs, and five pages of text by Cyril W. Beaumont describing Idzikowski in various roles and as a presence in ballet. A sketch by Randolph Schwabe shows the dancer in costume, seated in his dressing room. Following are four color images of Idzikowski in ballet poses, reproductions of paintings by Vera Willoughby. Then, there are twelve publicity photographs are of him in various costumes of his choreographed roles. Rebound with new covers, book comes in a special new case/envelope created to protect it, size is 8 x 12.5 inches, ownership stamp on frontend page by Lillian Moore, in very good condition, rare!. See some pictures of inside.

Program for a performance of the Swanlake ballet by Imperial Russian ballet at the Brooklyn Academy of Music for the Season 1911-1912, featuring dancers Alexander Volinine, Mikhail Mordkin, and others. Size is 5.25 x 8.7 inches, 36 pages plus soft covers and a 4-page insert, in very good condition.

Program for a performance of the star Russian ballerina at the New Theater, London, on September 24, 1931, featuring Frederick Ashton and others. Size is 5.4 x 8.5 inches, full program with all pages and covers, in overall in excellent condition.

Russian prima ballerina (1885-1978), principal artist at the Imperial Russian Ballet and later for Diaghilev's Ballet Russes. Gorgeous hand painted porcelain figurine of the star dancer depicting her in Stravinsky's ballet "Petroushka". Size is 5.25 x 12.5 x 4 inches, made by the Lomonosov factory (logo on the bottom), in excellent condition.

Set of 13 original cibachrome photographs of the Kirov Ballet, performances of Chopiniana, 1982-1987. Photographs are between 7.1 x 9.5 and 8 x 10 inches, each one is bearing on verso an ink stamp with the photographer´s name (American photographer of the arts Seth Eastman Moebs). In excellent condition. Sold as a set only, not sold separately.

Set of 16 original photographs of the Kirov Ballet, performances of Chopiniana, 1982-1987. Each photo is 6.1 x 7.9 inches, bearing on verso an ink stamp with the photographer´s name (American photographer of the arts Seth Eastman Moebs). In excellent condition. Sold as a set only, not sold separately.

Set of 4 original photographs of the Kirov Ballet, performances of Chopiniana, 1982-1987. Each photo is mounted on a paper mat to a total size of 9.4 x 11.8 inches, signed in pencil by ballet and performing arts photographer Seth Eastman Moebs. In excellent condition.  

Austrian dancer (1859-1937), debutant at the Vienna Hofoper in 1878, wife to the writer and art collector Andreas Dillinger (1849-1919). Beautiful cabinet photo of her by Atelier Adèle (Vienna). Size is 4.3 x 6.8 inches, evident wear and creases over the borders, ink writing on the front and back, dirt stains over the borders, in very good condition.

Polish-born Russian ballerina (1872-1971). Beautiful of 16 unsigned modern photo postcards with her image (probably from the late 1970s - early 1980s). Each one's size is 3.75 x 5.75 inches, in excellent condition.  Original envelope is ALSO INCLUDED. SOLD ONLY AS A LOT, NOT SOLD SEPARATELY.

French dancer (1857-1931) at the Paris Opera. Vintage carte-de-visite (CDV) photograph of her mounted on cardboard, from 1872 by photographer Mathieu Deroche (Paris). Total size is 4.2 x 6.2 inches, ink markings, in overall very good condition.

French dancer (1857-1931) at the Paris Opera. Vintage carte-de-visite (CDV) photograph of her mounted on cardboard, from 1875 by photographer Gougenheim & Forest (Paris). Total size is 4.2 x 6.2 inches, ink markings, in overall very good condition.

French dancer (1857-1931) at the Paris Opera. Vintage carte-de-visite (CDV) photograph of her mounted on cardboard, from 1876 by photographer Frank & Co. (Paris). Total size is 4.2 x 6.2 inches, ink markings, in overall very good condition.

French dancer (1872-?) at the Opera Comique. Nice cabinet photograph of her from 1890, shown at the age of 18; photo by Otto van Bosch (Paris). Size is 4.2 x 6.2 inches, ink writing at the bottom, in excellent condition.

Beautifully hand-colored print of the scene "Les Amours d'une Rose" from the act IV of the ballet "La Fille du Diable" - A vaudeville Fantastique (1860) with music by Pierre-Jullien Nargeot (1799-1891). Size is 13 x 10.5 inches, central fold, some stains on margins, in good condition.

Vintage book "Les Danseuses de l'Opera: Costumes des Principaux Ballets" by artist Alophe with 14 hand-colored lithographs of leading ballerinas of the 1850s such as Marie Taglioni, Carolina Rosati, Amalia Ferraris, Adeline Plunkett, Eugenie Fiocre, Emma Livry, Louise Marquet, Zina Richard, Sophie Cassegran, and Vibon. Size is 10 x 13.2 inches, loss of paper over the lower-right corner of the front cover, inside in excellent condition. Extremely rare and sold at a bargain price!

Ukrainian-born French ballet dancer, choreographer (1905-1986), principal dancer of Diaghilev's Ballets Russes, and director of the Paris Opera Ballet. Book "A L'Opéra" with many illustrations published by Champrosay (Paris), limited edition of 750 copies made with a special type of paper, no year indicated (circa the early 1940s).  Size is 10.2 x 13.4 x 0.8 inches, some wear on the front cover, inside in excellent condition.  

Austrian dancer (1850-1892), prima ballerina of the Vienna Court Opera, and second wife of Historian Hans Makart. Fine vintage carte-de-visite (CDV) of her by photographer Julius Cornelius Schaarwächter (Berlin). Size is 2.5 x 4.1 inches, ink-writing on verso, otherwise in excellent condition.

A stunning photograph of the famous ballerina signed by the famous photographer Max Waldman (1919-1981), and numbered 2/25.  Size is 15.75 x 19.75 inches, in excellent condition.

French dancer (1875-1943) at the Paris Opéra at the age of 18, portrayed many times by painter Edgar Degas. Nice cabinet photograph of her from 1893 by photographer L{eon Pillaut/Benque & Co (Paris). Size is 4.2 x 6.2 inches, ink markings over the bottom, in excellent condition.

Program for a performance of the famous Spanish dancer (1917-2008) and her dance group at SPAM -Sociedad Pro Arte Musical, Havana, Cuba, on December 1st, 1949, signed by her and four more members of the group.  Size is 5.6 x 8.6 inches, 4 pages, in excellent condition.

Original engraving from 1796 published by H. Humphrey, London, 1796, for "Modern Grace" or "Operatic Finale to the Ballet 'Alonso e Caro'". Size is 19.1 x 12.5 inches, rust stains, in overall very good condition.

Hand-colored etching by famous British caricaturist and printmaker James Gillray (1756-1815), published by H. H. Humphrey, London, 1796. French dancer Charles Didelot (1767-1837) performs on the stage between two women (his wife Rose on the left, and Mme. Parisot (c.1775-1837) on the right). Size is 17.4 x 12.5 inches, some spots with rust, overall age toning, tape marks over the top margin, otherwise in very good condition.

French actress (1843-1891), dancer, and singer. Fine vintage carte-de-visite (CDV) photo of her by Mayer & Pierson. Size is 2.3 x 3.7 inches, mounting traces on verso, in very good condition.

French dancer at the Opéra Comique. Fine vintage cabinet photograph of the dancer from 1891 by V.D. Editeur (Paris). Size is 4.1 x 6.4 inches, big crease at the center, ink writing on the front, otherwise in very good condition.

Group of 14 items, including photos of the members of the New York City Ballet plus a program for the Memorial Service of George Balanchine (1983). Photos include dancers Peter Martins, Heather Watts, Alicia Alonso, Igor Yourkevitch and others. Photos are approximately 8 x 10 inches in size, some of them stamped on verso by the New York City Ballet. Program is 6.6 x 9.75 inches in size. All in very good condition. SOLD ONLY AS A LOT, NOT SOLD SEPARATELY.

Program clip for a performance of the ballets Petrouchka and Thamar by Diaghilev's Ballet Russes at The Metropolitan Opera House, New York, on April 20, 1916, featuring the star ballet dancer Vaslav Nijinsky, Lydia Lopokova, Enrico Cecchetti, and others. Sie is 5.4 x 12.3 inches, folds, in very good condition.  

Program for a performance of Leoncavallo's opera "Pagliacci" and the ballets "Narcisse" and "Prince Igor" featuring the star Russian ballet dancers Vaslav Nijinsky and Tamara Karsavina with Diaghilev's Ballet Russes at The Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, 1912. Size is 7.4 x 9.8 inches, 4 pages, minor damage on the spine, in overall very good condition.

Russian ballet dancer (1890-1950) and choreographer, probably the most celebrated male dancer in the entire history of dance. Gorgeous handpainted porcelain figurine of the star dancer depicting him in Stravinsky's ballet "Petroushka". Size is 3.5 x 12.5 x 4.5 inches, made by the Lomonosov factory (logo on the bottom), in excellent condition.