Picasso's Mark

André Verdet, Picasso's Mark. Éditions Parler, [Nice], 1961. First edition. In-8°, publisher's wrappers with original cover designed by Pablo Picasso. Photographs by Robert Picault and Jacqueline Roque. Copy of exceptional provenance: autograph signature of Picasso in red pastel on the front endpaper and autograph dedication by author André Verdet to Carlo Cardazzo, dated 1961. Cardazzo (1908-1963) was the most influential Italian gallery owner of the postwar period, founder of the Galleria del Cavallino in Venice (1942) and the Galleria del Naviglio in Milan (1946), promoter of Fontana, Burri, Tancredi and Italian informal art. The presence of this volume in his library testifies to direct relationships between Picasso's circle and the Italian avant-garde. Slight wear to edges, interior fresh. A bibliophile document of primary importance for the history of Italian collecting.