A well-preserved copy in the original wrappers and a contemporary box.

A beautiful book celebrating the life one of the most famous ballerinas of all time. Illustrations from artists including, Léon Bakst, Aimé Stevens, Valentin Serov, Joseph Urban, John Lavery, Victor Diatchkov, Konstantin Korovin, Sergey Solomko, Boris Anisfeld, Trubetskoy, Fredmann-Cluzel and Schuster-Woldon. Along with numerous photo portraits of Anna Pavlova and with Nijinsky.

Valerian Svetlov (1860-1932) was a critic and associate of Serge Diaghilev. Nijinsky wrote in his diary, 'Svetlov lived with a dancer and learned many technical expressions from her. He made them into beautiful sentences. There were other critics on dancing but they were not so sharp and witty. Svetlov was always ready with an answer'.

First edition in English, number 101 of 325 copies; large 4to (33 x26 cm); decorative woodcut head and tail pieces by D. Galanis, 22 plates with tissue guards, numerous in-text illustrations and photographic reproductions, very fresh internally; original wrappers, title in gilt to upper cover, in an elaborate leather pull-off case with raised bands, gilt detail replicating the spine of the wrappers, some minor wear to box, a near fine copy.