Griffe de Picasso with autograph signature and Cardazzo provenance

In the publishing landscape of the 1960s, few volumes embody with equal force the encounter between poetry and visual art as André Verdet's Griffe de Picasso, published by Éditions Parler in 1961. This copy, however, transcends the category of livre d'artiste to become a historical document of primary importance: it bears Pablo Picasso's autograph signature in red pastel on the cover he himself designed, accompanied by an autograph dedication from the author André Verdet dated 1961 and addressed to Carlo Cardazzo, the legendary figure of Italian twentieth-century collecting and artistic promotion.

Bibliographic notes

The publication of Griffe de Picasso in 1961 represents one of the culminating moments in the collaboration between André Verdet — poet, art critic and personal friend of Picasso — and the Spanish master. Éditions Parler, a Parisian publishing house specialising in fine editions, entrusted Picasso with creating the original cover, transforming the volume into a total work of art. The first edition is distinguished by the quality of its printing and the organic integration of poetic text and graphic image, a defining characteristic of Picasso's most successful collaborations.

Verdet, who frequented Picasso assiduously during the Vallauris and Mougins years, devoted numerous writings to the master's work, but Griffe de Picasso remains his most intimate and penetrating contribution, a poetic exploration of Picasso's creative gesture that moves beyond traditional criticism to become existential testimony. The cover designed by Picasso is not mere illustration but visual dialogue with the text, a graphic extension of Verdet's poetic reflection.

Provenance & condition

The provenance of this copy constitutes its most significant distinguishing feature. Carlo Cardazzo (1908-1963) was the Venetian gallerist who revolutionised the Italian postwar art scene. Founder of Galleria del Cavallino in 1942 and subsequently Il Naviglio in Milan, Cardazzo introduced American Abstract Expressionism to Italy, championed Lucio Fontana, Alberto Burri, Tancredi and countless other protagonists of contemporary art. His network of international contacts and anticipatory vision made him a privileged interlocutor for Europe's major artists, Picasso included.

Verdet's autograph dedication to Cardazzo, dated 1961, testifies to the direct relationship between the French poet and the Venetian gallerist, whilst Picasso's signature in red pastel — the master's preferred medium for personal inscriptions — confirms the authenticity of the intervention and the non-commercial nature of the gift. This copy thus circulated within the restricted circle of insiders, passing directly from author to dedicatee through Picasso's mediation or consent.

The condition is excellent for a volume of museum provenance: the original cover is intact, the signature in red pastel perfectly legible, Verdet's dedication clear. The absence of restoration or subsequent interventions preserves the historical integrity of the document.

Market value

The BookOracle valuation places this copy in the €3,697-€4,683 range, with a rarity index of 88/100 classified as 'super'. This estimate reflects the convergence of multiple value factors: Picasso's autograph signature, the author's dedication, documented Cardazzo provenance, museum-quality condition and the volume's historical significance within the context of Picasso's collaborations.

The market for artist's books signed by Picasso has registered steady growth in recent years, with particular attention to copies of distinguished provenance. Christie's and Sotheby's auctions document realisations between €2,500 and €6,000 for Verdet first editions with Picasso's signature, but without the component of authorial dedication and above all without provenance comparable to Cardazzo's. Copies with double signature (artist and author) and museum or historic collection provenance regularly reach the upper limit of estimates, occasionally exceeding them when institutional collectors compete.

The absolute rarity of Cardazzo material on the market — most of his archive is preserved in public institutions — constitutes a further element of value. Every document illuminating the relationships between Cardazzo and the artists in his circle represents a precious tessera for reconstructing the history of Italian collecting.

Why it matters

This copy of Griffe de Picasso transcends bibliographic value to assume the dignity of historical document. It testifies to the network of relationships linking Paris, Venice and Milan during the years of Italy's economic miracle, when visionary gallerists like Cardazzo built bridges between the European avant-garde and the Italian public. The joint presence of Picasso and Verdet on a volume destined for Cardazzo materialises that cultural triangle which redefined taste and the art market in Italy.

For the collector of artist's books, it represents a rare opportunity to acquire an authentic Picasso with impeccable, documented provenance. For the scholar of Italian art history, it constitutes a primary source for understanding the mechanisms of circulation of works and ideas in the postwar period. For the museum institution, it offers a missing piece in reconstructing Carlo Cardazzo's activity and his relationships with international artists.

The combination of bibliographic excellence, certified authenticity and historical relevance places this volume among the most significant documents of twentieth-century Italian collecting available today on the private market.