Beauties of the Opera and Ballet Illustrated with ten highly-finished portraits, engraved on steel, and numerous engravings on wood
London: David Bogue, [ca. 1844].
Large octavo. 19th century quarter dark blue morocco with matching cloth boards with single gilt rule to edges, raised bands on spine in decorative compartments gilt, titling gilt.
1f. (half-title), 1f. (recto blank, verso full-page hand-colored engraving of Carlotta Grisi in La Giselle by A.E. Chalon after H. Robinson within decorative border, 1f. (recto title, verso blank), 1f. (recto dedication, verso blank), 1f. (recto contents, verso list of plates), [ix]-xiv, 1f., 160 pp. With bookplate of William L. Scott to front pastedown.
Includes 10 full-page engraved plates of famous singers and dancers including Carlotta Grisi, Persiani, Giulietta Grisi, Fanny Elssler, Cerito, Taglioni, Sontag, Falcon, Dorus-Gras and Treillet-Nathan from productions including Giselle, The Barber of Seville, Norma, Le Diable Boiteaux, Ondine or the Naiad, La Sylphide, Don Juan, The Jewess and The Huguenots. With fine hand-colored wood engravings throughout text and many leaves with elaborate borders printed in color.
Binding slightly worn. A very good copy overall.
Derra de Moroda 1272. Niles & Leslie I p. 225.
A fine example of decorative Victorian book production and an important contribution to music and dance iconography of the period.
Item #28210
Price: $360.00 other currencies