556 - 16 programmes of the [American] Ballet Theatre. New York var. ed. 1940-1959 4to (a few sm. stains, creases and loose pp., otherwise in good overall condition). Stapled, ill. covers (a few tears, stains or foxing spots, a few spines with sl. cracks, sm. rust marks, otherwise in good condition). Collection of programmes from the Ballet Theatre company, founded in New York in 1940, up until the creation of the American Ballet Theatre, which succeeded it in 1957 : seasons 1940, 1941-42, 1942-43, 1943-44, 1944-45, 1945-46, 1946-47, 1947-48, 1949-50, 1950-51, 1951-52, 1952-53 (2 diff. progr.), 1954-55, 1956 and 1958-59. Cover illustrations by renowned artists such as Marc Chagall, Marcel Vertès, Eugène Berman or Paul Cadmus. Scenery, curtain and costume designs or ballet sketches by B. Aronson, M. Chagall, E. Degas, M. Doboujinsky, S. Soudeikine, etc. Num. photographs (portraits and stage shots) of the artists including Lucia Chase, Anton Dolin, Nana Gollner, Nora Kaye, Hugh Laing, Alicia Markova, Igor Youskevitch, many of them by Maurice Seymour, George Platt Lynes and Paul Radkai. Leaflets and/or newspaper clippings are enclosed in some booklets. Joined: 1. The Mordkin Ballet : Season 1938-1939. NY, R. Orthwine Corp. 4to, stapled (sl. creases). Color and b/w sketches by Soudeikine, Sorine, Simonson etc. - 2. 42 photographs from portfolios, press releases, rehearsals and premieres of American dance companies (The American Ballet Theatre, The New York City Ballet, The Joffrey Ballet, The Pennsylvania Ballet, The Merce Cunningham Dance Company), dating from the 1960s and 1970s. Silver gelatin prints, c. 25x21 cm, some captioned and stamped on the verso. A few duplicates. Among the photographed dancers and choreographers are José Limón, Twyla Tharp, Susan Emery, Chris Komar, Louise Burns, Ellen Cornfield, Barbara Sandonato, Arthur Mitchell, Peter Martins, Bonnie Mathis, Ted Kivitt, Russel Chambers, Richard Cotton and Gregory Huffman. Signed by Penny Brogden, Lois Greenfield, Terry Stevenson, etc.