Anna Pavlova.

signed by Pavlova

A well-preserved copy in the original wrappers. Signed by Anna Pavlova.

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, limited edition, one of 325 copies, large 4to; signed by the publisher on the justification and Pavlova on the half-title; decorative woodcut head and tail pieces by D. Galanis, 22 plates with tissue guards, numerous in-text illustrations and photographic reproductions; original wrappers, title in gilt to upper cover, spine lightly creased with a little loss of paper at ends, couple of minor nicks at edges, small mark to rear panel, wrapper split from book block at rear inner hinge, book block split before pp. 65 and 125, but holding, occasional browning to edges, contents fresh and clean, housed in a custom blue cloth solander box, a very good copy.