Pierre de Tartas, Éditeur d’Art au Moulin de Vauboyen, 1976.
Publisher’s Deluxe Copy (“Exemplaire d’Éditeur sur Japon Nacré”) — the second and rarest category listed in the Justification du Tirage.
Printed specially for Pierre de Tartas himself, this edition is distinguished by its cover plate cast and gilded in 23-carat gold, and includes one proof on parchment of an original relief engraving by Picasso. A magnificent and complete example preserved in its original full black leather case, gilt-titled Federico García Lorca – Chant Funèbre – Picasso on the spine, with interior chemises lined in red.
Description and contents:
The volume is illustrated with five original relief engravings by Picasso (including the front cover plate) and four full-page color wood engravings and ten in-text black engravings by Guy Descouens after Picasso’s compositions. The text, composed by hand in Bodoni 30-point type, was printed by Pierre Jean Mathan on the presses of the Moulin de Vauboyen. The printing of the extremely delicate relief matrices was entrusted to the Ateliers Desclais.
This Exemplaire d’Éditeur on Japon Nacré includes:
– One gilt front cover plate in 23-carat gold based on Picasso’s original composition.
– One proof on parchment (vélin parcheminé) of an original relief engraving.
– A complete suite of color wood engravings hors-texte on silk (soie).
– A complete suite of color wood engravings hors-texte on Japon Nacré.
– A complete suite of all in-text wood engravings on Japon Impérial.
– A complete suite of the five original relief engravings on tissue “Harpagon vieil or.”
– A proof of one relief engraving in color on Japon Nacré.
– A color decomposition of one plate on Grand Vélin d’Arches.
All elements correspond exactly to the detailed inventory handwritten by the publisher (included), confirming the integrity of the contents as per the Justification du Tirage.
Printing and Edition Details:
Justification du Tirage specifies:
– Un exemplaire unique sur Japon Nacré (with an original color drawing and parchment proof).
– Un exemplaire d’éditeur sur Japon Nacré (the present copy), with the 23-carat gilt plate and parchment proof.
– Quatre exemplaires sur Japon Nacré (letters A–D), each including the same series of suites.
– Followed by 30 copies on Moulin Richard de Bas, 50 on Grand Vélin d’Arches, and 220 on standard Vélin d’Arches.
Technical details:
Format in-quarto Jésus (28 × 38 cm).
Printed on Japon Nacré, Japon Impérial, Soie, Harpagon vieil or, and Grand Vélin d’Arches.
Typography: Bodoni 30.
Presswork: Pierre Jean Mathan, Moulin de Vauboyen.
Engravings printed at Ateliers Desclais under the supervision of Pierre de Tartas.
Publication date: December 1976.
Binding and presentation:
Loose sheets in original red-lined folders, housed in the publisher’s custom full-leather case, gilt-lettered in 23-carat gold on spine. A remarkable presentation issued exclusively for the publisher and never commercially distributed.
Condition:
All plates bright, clean and perfectly preserved; paper crisp and unfaded; leather box in excellent condition with only minimal traces of handling. A pristine and museum-worthy example.
Provenance:
From the personal archive of Pierre de Tartas, publisher and close collaborator of Picasso, Cocteau, Zadkine, and Lorca’s literary estate.
Rarity and significance:
Only one Exemplaire Unique and one Exemplaire d’Éditeur were produced, both preceding the four Japon Nacré lettered copies. The present Exemplaire d’Éditeur thus represents one of the two highest-ranking copies in the entire 306-copy edition. Its completeness, documentation, and 23-carat gilt cover make it one of the most desirable examples known in private hands.
References:
– Justification du Tirage, Pierre de Tartas, 1976.
– Cramer, Picasso: The Illustrated Books, no. 138.
– Orozco, Picasso: The Illustrated Editions, p. 312–314.
