Lettres sur la danse, et sur les ballets. A Stutgard, et se vend à Lyon, chez Aimé Delaroche,

Engraved arms of the Duke of Württemberg on dedication leaf.8vo. (175 x 105mm). [2]ff. 484pp. 18th century French mottled calf, ornamental gilt spine, morocco label.

First edition, first issue with the imprint: "Stutgard", of this very important of collection of letters which called for the traditional forms of ballet to be completely banned from the repertoire because they were so uninspired and replaced by completely new forms. Although he was appointed head of Ballet de l'Académie Royale de Musique, Noverre gained great animosity from his contemporaries and it was left to his successors to put his new ideas into place. "No book has exerted so incalculable an influence for good on the manners and production of ballets and dances" (Beaumont, pp. 134-5). Noverre wrote many ballets and founded the Stuttgart Ballet at the court of the Dukes of Württemberg. In 1767 he moved to Vienna where he collaborated with Glück, and in 1774 he was working in Milan.Armorial bookplate of Anatole Bassseville. In excellent condition.I.K. Fletcher, Forty Rare Dance Books, no. 34. En Français dans le Texte, no. 161.

Stock Code: 42514