Description:

Pablo Picasso
Cannes, France, August 22, 1959
Pablo Picasso PSA GEM MT 10 Rare ALS In Blood-Red Paint? Dated Just After Beginning "Luncheon on the Grass"
ALS

A 1p autograph letter in French signed by Spanish Modern artist Pablo Picasso (1881-1973) as "Picasso" at lower right. August 22, 1959. Written at Villa La Californie, Picasso's home and artist's studio in Cannes, France from 1955-1961. Boldly inscribed in blood-red paint-like medium (if not actually paint?) in horizontal lines on a watermarked paper sheet. Encapsulated and PSA/DNA certified and graded GEM MT 10. Expected wear including flattened transmittal folds and a few extra wrinkles, else near fine and very legible. Currently in a PSA plastic sleeve. The actual size of the letter is 10.125" x 8.25" while the slab measures 13.125" x 9.625."

Picasso addressed this letter to Max Pellequer (before 1903 - after 1973), a close friend who has been called the artist's "finance minister" by one art historian. It is a testament to Picasso's intimacy with Pellequer (the two were friends between 1914 and the early 1970s) that the artist penned an entire autograph letter signed to him instead of relegating this task to Jaime Sabartés, Picasso's private secretary and later biographer. Overall, autograph letters signed by Picasso of any length or content are extremely rare because Picasso was often too busy or too bored to be bothered with correspondence.

Just two weeks earlier, on August 10, 1959, Picasso had completed his first artistic tribute to Édouard Manet as inspired by the latter's controversial oil on canvas "Le Déjeuner Sur L'Herbe" ["Luncheon on the Grass"] (1863). Picasso had decided to create a Manet-inspired cycle as early as the 1930s, but he did not start the project until the summer of 1959. The estimates from art museums vary, but Picasso is believed to have made nearly 200 artworks, all inspired by Manet's "Luncheon on the Grass," between 1959-1962. Picasso's homages to Manet included about 140 drawings, 27 paintings, a handful of linoleum cuts, and over a dozen maquettes, all depicting either some or all of the figures found in Manet's original: one nude woman and two fully clothed men.

Please see below for the transcript in French and the English translation, with unchanged spelling and punctuation:

Transcribed in full:

"'La Californie'
Cannes A.M. - le 22.8.59.

Mon cher Max

Non je n'ai pas reçu rien du percepteur.

J'attends les mesures du fauteuil.

Il pleut.

Jacqueline vous envoie ses amitiés. Moi aussi.

Je vous embrasse -

votre
Picasso."

Translated in full:

"'La Californie'
Cannes A.M. [Alpes-Maritimes] - the 22.8.59.

My dear Max

No I didn't receive anything from the tax collector.

I await the chair measurements.

It is raining.

Jacqueline sends you her best wishes. Me too.

I embrace you -

your
Picasso."

Much of Picasso's correspondence with Pellequer includes financial content like this one, such as Picasso's tax assessments and tax payments, his contributions to benefit funds, his insurance payments, and his residency status. Personal remarks that Picasso makes in these letters relate to his family, acquaintances, and current artistic projects. In this letter, Picasso mentions Jacqueline Roque (1927-1986), his lover and future second wife.

Max Pellequer was a French banker who co-founded and later directed the Banque Nationale du Commerce et de l'Industrie. Over several decades, Pellequer's astute financial advice and shrewd stewardship of Picasso's sprawling assets enabled the artist to become a millionaire. Pellequer was also a kindred spirit, a serious art collector who acquired artwork by artists like Picasso, Degas, Cézanne, Gauguin, Matisse, Miró, Modigliani, Dufy, and others. Picasso purchased works from Pellequer's collection, and the artist designed a bookplate for his beloved friend. During the Nazi occupation of France, Pellequer is believed to have helped save some of Picasso's work by hiding it. This is no small accomplishment when one considers it would have probably been classified as "degenerate" by the Nazis and otherwise destroyed.

This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

WE PROVIDE IN-HOUSE SHIPPING WORLDWIDE!

  • Dimensions: slabbed: 13.125" x 9.625"
  • Medium: ALS

Accepted Forms of Payment:

ACH, American Express, Discover, MasterCard, Money Order / Cashiers Check, Personal Check, Visa, Wire Transfer

Shipping

Unless otherwise indicated, we do our own in-house world-wide shipping!

Applicable shipping and handling charges will be added to the invoice. We offer several shipping options, and remain one of the few auction houses that proudly provides professional in-house shipping as an option to our clients. All items will ship with a signature required option, and full insurance. Most items are sent via Federal Express, with P. O. Box addresses being sent through USPS. We insure through Berkley Asset Protection with rates of $.70 per $100 of value, among the lowest insurance rates in the industry. Our shipping department cameras document every package, both outgoing and incoming, for maximum security. In addition, we compare our shipping and handling rates against those of other auction houses, to ensure that our charges are among the lowest in the trade.

Upon winning your item(s), you will receive an invoice with our in-house shipping and handling fees included. ***We will ship to the address as it appears on your invoice. If any changes to the shipping address need to be made, you must inform us immediately.***

International shipments: In order to comply with our insurance provider, all international shipments will be sent via Fed Ex and customs paperwork will show a value of $1.00. International buyers should contact our office directly with any questions regarding this policy.

Third-Party Shipping Option: If a third-party shipper is preferred, the buyer is responsible for contacting them directly to make shipping arrangements. For your convenience, we have provided some recommended shippers. For your protection, we will require a signed release from you, confirming your authorization for us to release your lots to your specified third-party. At that point, our responsibility and insurance coverage for your item(s) ceases. Items picked up by third-party shippers are required to pay Connecticut sales tax. Items requiring third-party shipping due to being oversized, fragile or bulky will be denoted in the item description.

Please see our full terms and conditions for names of suggested third-party shippers.

After payment has been made in full, University Archives will ship your purchase within 10 business days following receipt of full payment for item.

Please remember that the buyer is responsible for all shipping costs from University Archives' offices in Wilton, CT to the buyer's door. Please see full Terms and Conditions of Sale.

November 19, 2025 10:00 AM EST
Wilton, CT, US

University Archives

You agree to pay a buyer's premium of 25% and any applicable taxes and shipping.

View full terms and conditions

Bid Increments
From: To: Increments:
$0 $99 $10
$100 $299 $20
$300 $499 $25
$500 $999 $50
$1,000 $1,999 $100
$2,000 $2,999 $200
$3,000 $4,999 $250
$5,000 $9,999 $500
$10,000 $19,999 $1,000
$20,000 $49,999 $2,500
$50,000 + $5,000