"BLAND, Alexander" (d.1982, pseudonym). The Royal Ballet, [London], 1981, 4to, original morocco, ONE OF 250 COPIES SIGNED BY NINETTE DE VALOIS. With 10 other books, all signed, some relating to the ballet, opera, etc. (11)

"BLAND, Alexander" (d.1982, pseudonym, see below).  The Royal Ballet. The First 50 Years ... With a Foreword by Dame Ninette de Valois. [London:] Threshold Books, 1981. 4to (285 x 215mm). Title printed in red and black, coloured and monochrome photographed illustrations (some light staining to the limitation leaf and the title). Original red half morocco gilt, gilt edges, slipcase. FIRST EDITION. NUMBER 41 OF 250 COPIES SIGNED BY NINETTE DE VALOIS. "Alexander Bland" was the single pseudonym chosen by the husband-and-wife writing team of Nigel Gosling (1909-82) and dancer Maude Lloyd (1908-2004). One of the most influential figures in the history of ballet, Ninette de Valois (1898-1901) was a renowned dancer, teacher and choreographer who established the Royal Ballet and the Birmingham Royal Ballet. With 10 other books, all signed, some relating to the ballet, opera, etc., including Baron Encore. Introduction and Commentary by Arnold L. Haskell (London, 1952, 4to, coloured frontispiece and photographed illustrations by "Baron", original full red morocco gilt, slipcase, FIRST EDITION, NUMBER 92 OF 250 COPIES SIGNED BY ARNOLD HASKELL AND "BARON" ("Baron" was the pseudonym of Stirling Henry Nahum (1906-56), official photographer of the Sadler's Wells Ballet and a renowned society photographer), Friedland Wagner's The Royal Family of Bayreuth (London, [n.d.], 8vo, original cloth, dust-jacket, SIGNED BY THE AUTHOR), Elisabeth Söderström's In My Own Key (London, 1979, original cloth, dust-jacket, FIRST U.K. EDITION, SIGNED BY THE AUTHOR), Nicholas John's The Operas of Michael Tippett (London, 1985, 8vo, wrappers, SIGNED BY MICHAEL TIPPETT), Barbara Newman's Antoinette Sibley. Reflections of a Ballerina (London, 1986, original cloth, dust-jacket, FIRST EDITION, SIGNED BY ANTOINETTE SIBLEY) and Douglas Fairbanks' The Salad Days (London, 1988, original cloth, dust-jacket, FIRST U.K. EDITION, SIGNED BY THE AUTHOR). (11)