Hoppe, Emile Otto - "Studies from the Russian Ballet" 1913

German born photographer Emile O. Hoppé (1878-1972) moved to London in 1902 at the age of 24, and later and became one of the most important portrait and documentary photographers of his time. Published in 1913, this set of photo prints, "Studies from the Russian Ballet", is the photographer’s first major publication. At a time when ballet was highly popular, Hoppé photographed most of the leading members of Serge Diaghilev’s Russian Ballet in London. Fifteen of these works are included in this portfolio/folder published by the Fine Art Society London in 1913. Plate eight shows Vaslav Nijinsky in the costume of le Spectre de la Rose taken in 1911, and on plate fifteen we see him in the costume of Scheherazade, taken in 1910. Both photographs of Nijinsky are taken by Auguste Bert.

Back of the front cover has an index/summary of the plate´s contents. Title leaf is missing.

Due to the fragile nature of a portfolio, and the material used, this is one of the rarest and most delicate volumes to collect. The plates are made of heavy card with mounted rotogravures, 9.5 x 13.8 inches in size, unbound and come inside a dark grey folder that is 10.5 x 15 inches in size. Minor stains and overall aging, but all in overall very good condition. Very rare!