"THE ONLY AMERICAN PUBLICATION WITH ORIGINAL PICASSO ETCHINGS": LYSISTRATA, SIGNED BY PICASSO

(PICASSO, Pablo) ARISTOPHANES. Lysistrata. New York: Limited Editions Club, 1934. Slim quarto, original decorative cream boards with designs by Picasso, original glassine, chemise, and slipcase. $9500.

Signed limited edition, number 411 of 1500 copies signed by Picasso, with six original etchings—"among his most important in the classical style"— and 34 in-text lithographs.

This landmark in the history of book illustration is "the only American publication with original Picasso etchings, which are among his most important in the classical style" (The Artist and the Book 226). Set in Caslon type and printed on Rives paper, this new version by Gilbert Seldes was considered by publisher George Macy to be one of the finest productions from his press. Picasso's classical illustrations are characterized by their extraordinary "purity of line and balance of composition" (Cramer). LEC 57. Cramer, 24. Strachan, 340.

Book fine, fragile original glassine unusually nice with only minor wear; original slipcase and chemise expertly restored. A beautiful copy.