Rare books and antique sheet music, librettos, programs and posters: music, opera, ballet, choreography...

"Y a des bals pour les pompiers / Et les joyeux militaires. /...

Comme devant une place / Pleine de gens et de bruit / Je reste figé sur place / Arrêté devant ma vie

First edition on ordinary paper.
Work decorated with a frontispiece illustration by Joan Miro.

Very precious autograph inscription signed by Janine Queneau to her great friend Boris Vian: "A Boris dont je crains d'avoir bien mal suivi les conseils. Avec beaucoup d'affection. Janine." ["To Boris, whose advice I fear I have followed very poorly. With much affection. Janine."]

Provenance: Boris Vian Foundation.
 

Ce que j'aime dans la romance / C'est l'moment où ça commence / Le moment où je la vois / Toute neuve devant moi

First edition of one of the most beautiful books of the 18^th century, of which the text and the music are entirely engraved$. It is illustrated with an engraved title, 3 frontispieces by Le Bouteux and Le Barbier, a dedication page with the Dauphine arms, and 100 figures by Moreau le Jeune, Le Barbier, Le Bouteux and Saint-Quentin, finely engraved in copperplate by Masquelier and Née. The portrait of Laborde, which can be found on some copies, is not part of this edition and was printed in 1774, separately.
Dentelle bindings in full navy blue morocco, signed by Bruyère at the bottom of the pastedown endpaper. Slipcase covered with a blue marbled paper, suede interior, lined...

Third edition stated. The first edition was published in 1671. Printer's device on title page, with fleur-de-lys.
Contemporary full brown sheep binding. Decorated raised band spine. Brown sheep title-label. One hole at foot. Overall rubbed.
The success of this treatise on civility led to its reprinting more than 15 times until 1730. Written for a friend of the author who wanted to send his son to Court, the work particularly emphasizes respect for etiquette and the behavior that a gentleman should display. The treatise encompasses all activities of a gentleman: cleanliness, dancing, relations with servants, superiors, table manners...

Rare invitation card to attend the performance of oriental dances created by Jeanne Ronsay and Toshi Komori, at Raymond Duncan's Akadémia on 20 February 1922.

Handwritten manuscript signed by the choreographer Maurice Béjart. 

10 leaves written in blue pen. Handwritten pagination.
Maurice Béjart's handwritten proofs for his book Béjart-theâtre: A-6-Roc (éditions Plume, 1992), about his play A-6-Roc, first performed in the same year at the Vidy theatre in Lausanne.
After the foundation of “Béjart Ballet Lausanne” and his definitive departure from Belgium in 1987, Béjart continues to stage operas, produce films and publish several books (novel, memories, personal diary...). In addition, he wrote and directed his third play A-6-Roc performed in Lausanne in 1992, which he published...

Handwritten manuscript signed by the choreographer Maurice Béjart, sent to his publisher with a handwritten letter on two leaves.

9 leaves, 145 lines written in blue pen. Hand-pagination of the manuscript (1-7) and the letter to his publisher (a-b).
Maurice Béjart's handwritten reflections, entitled “Mémoire” “Memoirs,” make up the last chapter of his work Béjart-theâtre: A-6-ROC (Editions Plume, 1992), regarding his eponymous play that was created the same year in Lausanne.
After the foundation of “Béjart Ballet Lausanne” and his definitive departure from Belgium in 1987, Béjart continues to stage operas, produce...

Letter typed and signed from André Malraux to Maurice Béjart. One leaf headed by the Ministre d'Etat chargé des Affaires Culturelles (Ministry of Culture), bearing a stamp from 29 January 1969.
André Malraux hopes to place choreographer Maurice Béjart in charge of the Ballet de l'Opéra in Paris.

Magnificent and unpublished handwritten letter signed by Fernand Léger about American jazz and colours, addressed to Gaston Criel, author of a pioneering essay on “Swing.”
The painter looks back on his exile in the United States from 1940 to 1945, talks about Louis Armstrong and of his captivating discovery of experimental jazz in New York, in the company of the Afro-American painters of the Harlem Renaissance.

29 lines in black ink, written on one leaf.

The hand-written letter is presented under a half forest green morocco chemise, green paper boards with a stylised motif, endpapers lined with green lamb, slip case lined with...

Rare first edition of Hector Berlioz's first book.
Some restorations to the top spine-end, volume label on the spine of the second volume not fully visible, boards strengthened or lined (first board of the first volume), some stains on the first boards of both volumes.
Fine condition inside almost without any foxing.
Our copy is housed in green half shagreen chemises and slipcases, marbled paper boards, slipcases lined with the same shagreen, gilt titles and dates on the spine.
Rare.