Pikovaya Dama. [Queen of Spades].
Published by St Petersburg R. Golike and A. Vilborg, 1911
First edition; 4to (30 x 24 cm); 15 mounted color plates, numerous color illustrations in text, all by Benois; publisher's cream paper boards with blind and gilt panel decoration, flat spine lettered in gilt, top edge gilt, patterned endpapers, inner front hinge cracked, in a contemporary waxed paper dust-wrapper, somewhat worn at edges and split at spine, boards in a very fresh condition, a fine example; [4], xxii, 68 pp.
Tchaikovsky's masterpiece based on Pushkin's Pikovaya Dama was Benois' favourite opera. Although he provided some of the décor for a 1903 production, it was not until May 1921 that Benois produced and adapted Tchaikovsky's libretto and designed all the sets and the costumes for the State Theatre for Opera and Ballet in Petrograd. These illustrations dating from a decade before, obviously influenced the 1921 production.
This is a fine example of a work, (which is normally found heavily foxed), with the boards in pristine condition thanks to a contemporary dust-wrapper.
Diameter 12.5" x 10"