Cannes

Handsome and uncommon album comprising 36 vintage silver-print photographs (18.5 × 23 cm, mounted and captioned by hand), depicting exterior views—façades, gardens, and architectural perspectives—of this English neo-Gothic estate built between 1868 and 1872 by Thomas Smith and the Cannes contractor Scavy for one Michael Hugh Scott, who never lived in it: the property quickly passed to the businessman Debionne, who resold it to Lord Wolverton after furnishing and decorating the interior.

Publisher’s blue percaline binding, smooth unlettered spine, blind-ruled frame on the boards, gilt-lettered title to the upper cover, marbled endpapers and pastedowns; contemporary binding.

A...

Autograph letter by Pablo Picasso to Max Pellequer, vividly executed in multiple colours, signed and dated by the artist, 27 January 1956, addressed from his villa “La Californie”. Fourteen lines written in green, blue, pink, orange, red, violet and turquoise pencil on a watermarked “BFK Rives” sheet.
A few negligible transverse folds, as expected from mailing.

Picasso did not regularly employ colour in his correspondence. Here, however, he seems to have offered a gracious gesture to his friend and banker Max Pellequer, as the...

Multi-coloured autograph letter from Pablo Picasso to Max Pellequer, signed and dated by the artist on June 5,  1956. The document includes the autograph address of his villa ‘La Californie’. Twelve lines in orange, pink, blue, yellow and purple pencil on one sheet. 
Minor folds. 

A very elegant letter written in pastel colours by Pablo Picasso.

Multi-coloured autograph letter from Pablo Picasso to Max Pellequer, signed and dated by the author on June 13, 1957. The document includes the autograph address of his villa ‘La Californie’. 2 pages on one sheet, 22 lines in green, blue and red pencils on a watermarked sheet.
Minor folds. 

An exceptional account of Pablo Picasso's passion for bullfighting, a recurring theme in his art since his very first works painted at the age of eight ("The Little Yellow Picador", 1899). 

Pablo Picasso gives Max Pellequer and his wife details regarding a trip to...

Multi-coloured autograph letter from Pablo Picasso to Max Pellequer, signed and dated by the artist on September 23,  1959. The document includes the autograph address of his villa ‘La Californie’. Ten lines in blue and green pencils on a watermarked “BFK Rives” sheet.
Minor folds and marks.

A very elegant letter written in pastel colours by Pablo Picasso.

First edition, one of 950 copies on Vélin Vidalon signed by André Marchand, the only printing following 49 copies on Vélin d'Arches.

Bound in black morocco-backed boards with corners, smooth spine, gilt fillet borders on cat's eye paper-covered boards, marbled endpapers and pastedowns, original wrappers and spine preserved, all edges gilt. Slipcase edged in black morocco, marbled paper panels. Binding signed by D. Saporito.

Illustrated with 50 splendid original lithographs by André Marchand, printed by Mourlot.

Featuring previously unpublished texts by Georges Spyridaki, René Lacôte, Georges Hugnet, Gabriel Audisio, Raymond Queneau, David Herbert...

Signed and inscribed newspaper clipping with Picasso's portrait.

Newspaper clipping from 'Le Patriote de Nice et du Sud-Est' (25 October 1959) signed and inscribed by Pablo Picasso. A folded leaf inscribed with a large red felt-tip pen.

A pictorial and unusual inscription signed by Picasso on the front page of a Nice newspaper celebrating his 78th birthday: “For Max Pellequer / his friend / Picasso”. A beautiful testimony of friendship in an important political newspaper which featured many of the artist's original creations.

Autograph letter signed and dated September 26, 1955, by Georges Simenon, addressed from Cannes to André David.

18 lines in black ink on one leaf bearing his American address in Lakeville, Connecticut.

Mailing fold as usual.

Georges Simenon apologizes for his delayed response: "mais j'étais en plein roman. Parbleu ! si je me souviens de vous !" and indicates his upcoming availability to his correspondent, even specifying his future address in Cannes. He authorizes André David's project to adapt his novel "Maigret et la Grande Perche" for the screen, while setting his terms: "vous pouvez travailler sur La Grande Perche mais, bien entendu, mon acceptation ne...