[Rarebooks] FS - Leon Bakst's designs/limited edition

[GREENFIELD BOOKS]

*BAKST, Leon (Preface by Andre Levinson). /THE DESIGNS OF LEON BAKST FOR 
THE SLEEPING PRINCESS / A Ballet in Five Acts after Perrault / Music by 
Tchaikovsky/*. Benn Brothers Limited, London, 1923. A folio bound in 
quarter vellum over blue buckram, and issued in a limited edition of 
1,000 numbered copies, of which this is copy number 228. With 54 
magnificent full-colour laid-in plates of spectacular Bakst costume 
designs for the ballet, each protected by a captioned tissue guard; 
preceded by lithograph portrait of Bakst, by Picasso, signed and dated 
(1-4-22) in the plate. This copy from the library of Lady Millicent 
Taylour, with her distinctive bookplate on the front pastedown, and with 
her signature on the top of the front free endpaper.

"The Sleeping Princess" (also known as "The Sleeping Beauty") with music 
by Tchaikovsky, premiered in St. Petersburg, Russia, January 3, 1890. 
Despite a lavish production, and the choreography of Marius Petipa, it 
was not well-received, the critics and the public alike finding the 
music too "symphonic". It wasn't until 1921, when the Russian 
impressario Serge Diaghilev brought together Leon Bakst to design the 
sets and the costumes, and Igor Stravinsky to orchestrate the music, 
that the ballet was truly appreciated. Bakst's designs, in particular, 
were revolutionary: "Bakst's greatest claim to theatrical glory lies in 
his feeling for synthesis, in his impeccable instinct for harmony, which 
blends the innumerable elements of the performance into one, single, 
coherent, whole" (from Levinson's Preface). This copy has a small, but 
noticeable, tear to the fabric at the edge of the front board. The 
corners are a bit bumped and rubbed. The front board is a little bowed. 
The contents and illustrations are exceptionally clean: a magnificent copy!

Price: $3,000.00.

Terms of sale - The price is in USD, and is a special net price for 
members of this list. The book is, however, offered subject to prior 
sale. Payment by check, wire transfer, or credit card. Postage, packing 
and insurance charge is $25, sent anywhere. Returnable within seven days 
of receipt if not as described.

----------------------------------------------------------------------
Greenfield Books Ltd.
Member: ABAC/ILAB
217 Academy Road,
Winnipeg, MB R3M 0E3 Canada
Toll-free: 866-263-BOOK (2665)
Telephone: 204-488-2023
Web site: http://www.greenfieldbooks.com
*Secure credit card payment service available*