Aïda; with: signed publisher's poster

New York: Gulliver Books / Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, 1990. Signed limited edition, number 191 of 250 specially bound copies, of American soprano Leontyne Price’s picture book retelling of Giuseppe Verdi’s 1871 opera Aïda, illustrated by Leo and Diane Dillon, and accompanied by a signed promotional poster. The first African-American soprano to win international fame, Price performed the role of Aïda at opera houses across the world. She felt a special affinity with the daring, tragic Ethiopian princess: “She was my best friend operatically and was a natural for me because my skin was my costume . . . I always felt, while performing Aïda, that I was expressing all of myself.” The lush, dramatic illustrations by Leo and Diane Dillon, inspired by the iconography of Egyptian tomb paintings, resemble elaborate set designs. The Dillons won numerous awards over the course of their long career, including back-to-back Caldecott Medals in 1976 and 1977, for Ashanti to Zulu and Why Mosquitoes Buzz in People’s Ears, the only consecutive medals given to date. Aïda would win the Coretta Scott King Award for illustration in 1991. Signed by both Dillons, the publisher’s poster depicts Aïda in her royal garb at the palace window, an image that appeared on the dust jacket of the trade edition only. A near-fine book, signed by Price and both Dillons, accompanied by the scarce publisher’s poster. Single volume, measuring 11 x 10 inches: [34]. Original woven mulberry cloth lettered in gilt, color pictorial endpapers. Color plates and illustrated borders throughout text; numbered and signed by Price and the Dillons at colophon. Housed in original black cloth slipcase. Poster measuring 22 x 16 inches, signed by the Dillons. Light rubbing to joints and spine ends of book, lightest wear to poster. (Inventory #: 1003928)