Baron at the Ballet, 1st Edition, 1950, Signed Bayntun-Riviere Onlaid Binding
- SKU:
- baronballet
Description
Baron at the Ballet by Baron Sterling Nahum
True First Edition, Published by Collins, London in 1950
Signed Bayntun-Riviere Onlaid Full Leather Binding
Near FINE Condition
Binding Details: A stunning signed onlaid binding by Bayntun –Riviere, Bath, of full dark brown morocco leather. In the center of the front cover in various colors of morocco leather is a “theater mask” The spine treatment consists of raised bands, an onlaid treatment of “theater masks” that replicate the front cover design, and a compartment with the title in gold gilt. There are elaborately decorated gold gilt dentilles, marbled endpapers, and the top page ends are gold gilted. The Bayntun -Riviere binder’s stamp appears in on the top of the first free endpaper.
Book Details: This is a first edition, first printing of “Baron at the Ballet” published by Collins, London in 1950 that features the stunning photography of Baron Sterling Nahum, the official photographer for Sadler's Wells Ballet, London, and court photographer to the British Royal Family. Containing 222 printed pages of text with 8 full page color photographs and a collection of over 270 monochrome images, the book measures 11” x 8.5” and is divided into sections devoted to illustrating, describing and assessing the work of many famous ballet companies as well as dancers such as Markova, Argyle, Fonteyn, Shearer, Grey and Helpmann, Pagava, Vyroubova, Danilova, Baronova, and Kaye. From the publisher, ''This book covers Baron's work as a photographer of ballet from 1935 to 1950 and as such it is probably the most comprehensive collection of ballet photographs by one photographer ever to have been published.''
The preface is written by Baron Sterling Nahum and the introduction and commentary is by Arnold L. Haskell.
Condition Report: The binding is in Near FINE+ condition with some minor rubs to the boards and corner tips. The hinges are tight and secure. Internally, the book is very clean. There are no bookplates or other signs of previous ownership. Overall, this is a beautiful Bayntun-Riviere signed binding housing one of the greatest books about ballet ever published.
Photographs of the binding, endpapers, and some examples of the photographs that appear in the book are contained in the photo section of the listing.