First edition of this important and highly regarded study of ballet design, compiled by Brian Reade, former Keeper of Prints at the Victoria and Albert Museum. Published in 1967 by the Victoria and Albert Museum in association with Her Majesty's Stationery Office, this comprehensive catalogue documents one of the world's most significant collections of ballet-related art, spanning more than three centuries of theatrical history. Condition: Book: Very Good + Blue cloth boards in very good condition, clean, bright and firmly bound. type, illustrations and pages still sharp and bright. Dust Jacket: Good; shows age-related wear, markings and several small tears but remains intact and presents fairly well. A highly presentable copy of this classic ballet reference work.

The volume presents an extensive survey of ballet costume designs, stage sets, scene designs and illustrations from 1581 to 1940, featuring 175 plates, including several in colour. It traces the evolution of ballet from its origins in the European courts of the Renaissance through to the modern era, illustrating the artistic, cultural and theatrical developments that shaped one of the world's most celebrated performing arts.

More than a catalogue, this work remains an important reference source for historians of dance, theatre, costume design and the decorative arts. It records many notable works held by the Victoria and Albert Museum and provides valuable insight into the visual history of ballet, making it a desirable volume for collectors, researchers and institutions alike.

An authoritative catalogue raisonné produced by the Victoria and Albert Museum, this volume preserves and documents a remarkable body of ballet design and illustration from some of the most influential periods in theatrical history. It continues to be sought after by collectors of dance, theatre, costume and art reference books and remains one of the key published records of the V&A's celebrated ballet collection. [archive.org], [search.lib...rkeley.edu]