[Art] Brodovitch, Alexey. Ballet

New York: J.J. Augustin, (1945). First edition (one of 500 copies). Oblong 8vo. Text by Edwin Denby. Illustrated with 104 reproductions of photographs by Brodovitch. Publisher's quarter grey cloth over boards; in original printed French fold dust-jacket, wear along extremities, repairs to verso spine ends, abrasions on flaps from when opened, small tape remnants on same; all edges trimmed; in rare original paper-covered slip case, blue printed cover and spine label, light rubbing along edges. Roth, The Book of Books Seminal Photographic Books of the Twentieth Century, pp. 110-113

A handsome first edition with the rare original slip case of Alexey Brodovitch's important and highly influential photobook on the Ballet Russe de Monte Carol. "Critic Jane Livingston, who drafted Brodovitch as one of the more unlikely members of what she dubbed photography's New York School, speculates that only a few hundred copies of Ballet were ever printed, and that most of them were distributed as gifts to the artist's inner circle rather than to bookstores. But if the book's audience was limited, it was also quite select, and Ballet had enormous impact among the design and photo cognoscenti...more than half a century later, the book still looks radical, still feels exciting." (Roth, p. 110)

This lot is located in Philadelphia.

From the Special Collections and Rare Book Collection at University of the Arts’ Libraries, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

To request further details about this lot, please email booksmanuscripts@freemansauction.com

1600 W. Girard Avenue, Philadelphia. Please contact the Auction Specialist for details.

Darren Winston

SVP, Head of Department, Books and Manuscripts, Philadelphia

Darren Winston, Senior Vice President at Freeman’s, has served as Head of Department for Books & Manuscripts, Philadelphia, since 2018. He has been a trustee of the Rosenbach Museum and Library since 2022, is a member of The Manuscript Society, The Bibliographical Society of America, and Philadelphia’s Philobiblon Club.

Raised in northern New Jersey, Darren moved to New York City in 1988 and began his career there as a bookseller in 1995. He spent the next 18 years selling to private clients and at East Coast book fairs. In 2003 he moved with his young family to Sharon, Connecticut where, in 2009, he opened his own bookshop. Darren Winston, Bookseller offered rare and vintage books, prints, fine art, and more, and hosted over 50 book signings and art shows. He was a trustee and, later, Board President, of the Sharon Historical Society, and for six years a trustee of Indian Mountain School in Lakeville, Connecticut.

Darren has hosted the radio program "Darren Winston's Book Report" for NPR-affiliate WHDD since 2009, appeared in the 2014 book-themed documentary The Paper Trail, and in 2024 he joined Antiques Roadshow as a books and manuscripts appraiser. From 1999 to 2005, Darren was the buyer and consultant to the Fine and Rare Books Department at Asprey, the British luxury goods company, at its New York headquarters. While there he spearheaded various in-store events including readings by Salman Rushdie and Dominick Dunne.

In 1993, Darren was hired as a Creative Consultant to Columbia Records, where he assisted in the repackaging of their 12-record Aerosmith back catalogue. He later sold his extensive collection of Aerosmith memorabilia, which he began amassing at the age of 14, directly to the band.

Darren now lives on the Main Line, outside Philadelphia, with his wife, two children, and dog. The family travels frequently to his wife's native England and Scotland. When not bookselling, he plays guitar in Pumped, an Aerosmith tribute band. Darren also appears on the top-rated PBS television program Antiques Roadshow.

Fine Printed Books & Manuscripts, Including Americana

[Art] Brodovitch, Alexey. Ballet

Fine Printed Books & Manuscripts, Including Americana

[Art] Brodovitch, Alexey. Ballet

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