André Verdet; Pablo Picasso - Griffe de Picasso [signed & dedicated by Verdet, with original drawing by Picasso] - 1961

Pablo Picasso – André Verdet
Griffe de Picasso. Paris, Éditions Parler, 1961.

Small in-8 (21 × 14 cm). Original softcover with printed cover design by Pablo Picasso. 44 pages plus [6]. Illustrated with unpublished black-and-white photographs by Jacqueline Roque and Robert Picault. Printed on Vélin du Marais. Original edition from a total print run of 1,066 copies.

This copy includes original autograph interventions by Pablo Picasso on the half-title page, consisting of an autograph signature in red pastel pencil and an original graphic sign in brown pastel, forming a stylised question-mark motif applied directly to the page. These interventions are executed in pastel and are not part of the printed design.

The title page bears a handwritten dedication by André Verdet, author of the book, addressed to Andrée Claire and dated 1961. /Pour Andrée Claire, son grand ami, Saint-Jeannet. Affectueuses pensées au soleil de Picasso. André Verdet 61

Laid in separately is the original lithograph “Taureaux et Picador” by Pablo Picasso, printed in black on Marais paper. This lithograph was reserved for the deluxe issue of 45 copies and was not included in the regular edition. The present impression is an Épreuve d’Artiste (E.A.), issued outside the numbered deluxe run, and is here associated with a copy from the standard print run. Image size approximately 20 × 12.5 cm.

Bibliographic reference: Miguel Orozco, Picasso: 70 Years of Book Illustration, no. 206, where the publication details, print run, and the existence of artist-enhanced copies of Griffe de Picasso are recorded.

Complete copy, comprising the illustrated book with Picasso’s autograph pastel signature and graphic intervention (considered an original drawing) the author’s dedication, and the original E.A. lithograph. Condition very good overall.
Sent tracked and fully insured