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Performing Arts
All the performing arts are here, with wonderful illustrations dancing across the page for you.
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1913 The Spirit of ParisLondon: 1913A charming book on Paris and its enticing culture, shortly published before World War I and the great celebration of Parisian culture in the early twentieth century. -
c1940 The Art of the ActorLondon: c1940A very scarce English language translation of Iosif Rapoport's essay on the art of acting, published for the "New Theatre" Play Service and translated by Herbert Marshall. -
1954 2Vols The Medieval StageLondon: 1954A comprehensive two-volume study tracing the origins of European theatrical tradition, from liturgical drama to folk ritual, by eminent Shakespearean scholar E. K. Chambers. -
1851 A Little Book Of Songs And Ballads Gathered From Ancient Musick BooksLondon: 1851A lovely collection of songs and ballads in quarter black morocco, with an illustrated title page. -
1880-1896 The Theatre. A Monthly Review of the Drama, Music, and the Fine ArtsLondon: 1880-1896An impressive and scarce twenty-nine volume set of Clement Scott's theatrical periodical, an illustrated work including striking Woodburytype photographic portraits. -
1940 Walt Disney's FantasiaNew York: 1940The exceptionally vibrantly illustrated first edition of Deems Taylor's novelisation of Walt Disney's animated film 'Fantasia', a beautiful volume with tipped in colour plates. -
c1934 Folio of Songs from Walt Disney's Famous Pictures: Mickey Mouse and Silly SymphonyNew York: c1934The very scarce first edition of this charmingly illustrated publication of sheet music accompanying Disney's charming Silly Symphony animations. -
1946 Min-Yo: Folk-Songs of JapanTokyo: 1946The scarce second revised edition of a collection of Japanese folk-songs, special for their beautiful simplicity. -
1983 Walt Disney's FantasiaNew York: 1983A fine first edition of John Culhane's wonderful study of the creation of the 1940s classic animation 'Fantasia', featuring 130 colour illustrations. -
1934 A Book Of Old BalladsLondon : 1934A delightful first edition of this collection of ballads alongside the vibrant illustrations of H.M. Brock. -
1923 Crossings: A Fairy PlayNew York: 1923The first edition, first printing in the publisher's original blue cloth with decorative gilt, with sheet music by C. Armstrong Gibbs, and twelve full-page plates and further illustrations by Dorothy P. Lathrop. -
1903 Absalom, a Chronicle Play in Three ActsLondon: 1903The first edition of Thomas Sturge Moore's epic play concerning the famous biblical tale of Absalom's betrayal of his father, King David of Jerusalem. -
1901 Aphrodite Against Artemis, a TragedyLondon: 1901The first edition of prolific writer Thomas Sturge Moore's first play. Praised by W.B. Yeats. -
c1850 Oeuvres de Jean RacineParis: c1850beautifully bound collection of plays by French dramatist, Jean-Baptiste Racine, edited and with an introduction by L. S. Auger, in red cloth binding with gilt decoration. -
1920 Le Mémoire de Mahelot, Laurent et d'autres décorateurs de l'Hôtel de Bourgogne et de la Comédie-FrançaiseParis: 1920The first edition of this illustrated French memoir on 17th-century art and decor in France, in half blue morocco with blue cloth boards, featuring forty-nine original monochrome plates drawn from Mahelot's manuscript. -
1900 The Gay Lord Quex A Comedy in Four ActsLondon : 1900A smart copy of the comedic play exploring the romantic entanglements of the character Lord Queux, half bound in morroco with binder's stamp. -
1859 A Selection of Fifty of Moore's Irish Melodies, Harmonized for Four VoicesLondon: 1859A collection of Moore's Irish Melodies harmonized for four voices, with the original musical score from Michael William Balfe. -
1821 A View of the English Stage; Or, A Series of Dramatic CriticismsLondon: 1821The scarce first edition, second issue of William Hazlitt's volume of early 19th century theatrical criticism, a work that helped establish him as one of the greatest critics and essayists in the history of the English language. -
c1982 Theatre Plan BookLondon: c1982A vanishingly scarce series of theatre plans bound together, preserved in a faux wood chemise with metal adornments. -
1935-1936 A Collection of London Theatre Programmes Bound TogetherLondon: 1935-1936A generous collection of mid-20th-century London theatre programmes, presented here in a single volume. -
1951 Royal Festival Hall: The Official RecordLondon: 1951The first edition of this uncommon record of the Royal Festival Hall in London and its design, with vibrant illustrations throughout and in the original dust wrapper. -
1765-7 Sammelband of Seven Eighteenth Century PlaysLondon: 1766-7A collection of seven plays bound together, including David Garrick's dramatic play 'Cymon', bound in half calf. -
1719 The Works of Mr Edmund Smith, Late of Christ-Church, OxfordLondon: 1719A collection of theatrical and poetical works from Edmund Smith, including his popular work 'Phaedra and Hippolitus', an excellent copy of this scarce collection in modern cloth. -
1750-3 Sammelband of Four Tragic Plays: The Siege of Damascus, The Tragedy of Jane Shore, Tamerland, and CatoLondon: 1750-3A sammelband of four popular eighteenth century tragic plays, bound together in one volume and bound in quarter calf. -
1761-9 Eleven Comic Plays Performed at the Theatre Royal on Drury LaneLondon: 1761-9A collection of eleven scarce eighteenth century plays which were performed at the Theatre Royal on Drury Lane, including first and early edition of these scarce comic plays, and including 'The Cunning-Man', and bound in contemporary calf. -
1905 The Art of the TheatreEdinburgh & London: 1905Illustrated throughout, this is the uncommon first edition of Gordon Edward Craig's charming and detailed history of theatre. -
Signed
1983 Edward Gordon Craig: The last eight years 1958-1966, letters from Ellen Gordon CraigAldoversford: 1983A limited edition biographical work on Edward Gordon Craig, the noted theatre actor and director, told through letters from his daughter, and signed by his son Edward Craig. -
2016 Absolutely on Music: Conversations with Seiji OzawaLondon: 2016The first UK edition, first impression, of this insightful collection of conversations between writer, Haruki Murakami, a jazz enthusiast and record collector, and Ozawa, the renowned Japanese conductor. -
1826 Reminiscences of Michael Kelly of the King's Theatre, and Theatre Royal Drury LaneLondon: 1826Michael Kelly's memoir of his life and experiences in the theatre, bound in a smart crushed half morocco binding, extra illustrated with several portraits. -
1941 Nut-Cracker Suite Sheet Music Illustrated by Ida Rentoul OuthwaiteMelbourne: 1941A very scarce book of sheet music for the nut-cracker suite, beautifully illustrated in colour by the Australian illustrator, Ida Rentoul Outhwaite. -
1904 Souvenir of Becket by Alfred, Lord Tennyson; First Presented at the Lyceum Theatre, 6th Feb., 1893London: 1904A charming piece of theatrical ephemera, the souvenir edition of Tennyson’s Becket with twelve lithographed plates of portraits and stage scenes. -
1895 Musical Haunts in LondonLondon: 1895A richly illustrated first edition exploring London’s concert halls, theatres, churches, and salons with musical anecdotes and architectural history. -
1905 The Worshipful Company of MusiciansLondon: 1905A scarce second edition of this illustrated commentary on the Worshipful Company of Musicians. -
1864 Street Music in the MetropolisLondon: 1864William Hutchins Callcott's own copy of this very scarce first edition discussion of noise pollution and busking, a work which includes a letter from Callcott himself on the subject. -
1912 Royal Performances in London TheatresLondon: 1912Illustrated throughout, this is the very scarce first edition of Richard Northcott's account of the theatrical performances attended by the Royal Family throughout history. -
1925 The Story of the Lyric Theatre, HammersmithLondon: 1925Vibrantly bound in quarter morocco, this is the illustrated first edition of Nigel Playfair's account of the history of the Lyric Theatre in Hammersmith.