1898 History of Dance | Gilded Folio with Music & Engravings | Victorian Performing Arts, Fine Press Heirloom

1898 History of Dance | Gilded Folio with Music & Engravings | Victorian Performing Arts, Fine Press Heirloom

$395.00

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A Gilded Victorian Ode to the Art of Movement
Presented by Artifex Heirloom

This monumental 1898 Second Edition of A History of Dancing celebrates centuries of rhythmic tradition and visual opulence. Lavishly bound in burgundy cloth with radiant gilt cherubs, this large-format folio captures the evolution of dance—from ancient ritual to 19th-century ballroom, complete with sheet music, engravings, and 409 in-text illustrations.

Bibliographic Details:

Title: A History of Dancing from the Earliest Ages to Our Own Times

Author: Attributed to Gaston Vuillier

Edition: Second Edition (1898)

Publisher: D. Appleton & Co., New York

Format: Folio (12” x 9”), approx. 7.5 lbs

Binding: Burgundy cloth with gilt-stamped cherubs and bevelled boards

Illustrations:
– 20 full-page steel/wood engravings
– 409 in-text illustrations
– Engraved music and dance notation

Condition:
Exterior: Bright gilt, minor rubbing to corners/spine
Interior: Crisp pages, no markings, slight letterpress waviness
Binding: Sound and secure, all plates present
Overall: Very Good for age and format

ARROW Assessment:
A – Authenticity: 9 – Second edition, unaltered with publisher marks
R – Rarity: 9 – Rare in this condition with intact plates and binding
R – Relevance: 10 – Major work on dance history; cross-disciplinary appeal
O – Ownership: 8 – Private collection, no ex-library or institutional marks
W – Wear: 8 – Minor exterior rubbing, structurally excellent
Total Score: 44/50 – Museum Grade
Earns a Museum Grade score by ARROW standards, yet its design and thematic beauty make it equally suited to refined private collections.

Why Collect This Volume?
More than a book—it’s a time capsule of elegance. With musical scores, hundreds of illustrations, and gilt embellishments, this volume is a tribute to the aesthetics of movement and memory. Ideal for performing arts institutions, costume historians, and lovers of decorative Victorian print.

Shipping & Packaging:
Free U.S. shipping
Ships within 1–2 business days
International shipping calculated at checkout
Gift-wrapped on request in archival-safe packaging

Curator’s Note:
This edition exemplifies the grandeur of Victorian publishing—an heirloom in both form and content. While it qualifies as Museum Grade under the ARROW framework due to its completeness, condition, and rarity, it retains an intimate charm: ornamental yet inviting, scholarly yet decorative.

Whether destined for a performing arts archive or a private library of visual inspiration, it’s a piece that bridges historical gravitas with aesthetic delight. Books like this don’t just survive—they perform across generations.

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What Is the ARROW™ Score I See in Some Listings?

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