Books on Picasso: illustrated books, catalogues and monographs

These three categories vary greatly in rarity and price, which is why a bookseller’s expertise is essential. We describe each volume, identify the printing process used for the illustrations, and specify whether they are reproductions or original prints.

Books illustrated by Picasso

From the early 1900s, Picasso illustrated works by Max Jacob (Saint Matorel, 1911, published by Kahnweiler), Balzac (Le Chef-d'œuvre inconnu, Vollard, 1931), Ovid (Les Métamorphoses, Skira, 1931), Buffon (Histoire naturelle, Fabiani, 1942), Reverdy, Éluard, Tzara, Cocteau, Prévert, and Iliazd. These artist’s books, produced in small print runs with original etchings, drypoints, lithographs, or linocuts, are the most sought-after and expensive items.

Alongside these, there is a more accessible production: books illustrated with reproductions (Ombre de mon amour by Apollinaire, the Mimes des courtisanes by Pierre Louÿs in the 1950 edition, Portraits de Picasso by Prévert published by Mourlot), lithography albums printed by Mourlot, and gallery catalogues. Their value lies in the edition, print quality, and condition.

Scholarly catalogues, monographs, and exhibition catalogues

The scholarly catalogue by Christian Zervos (Cahiers d'art, 33 volumes) is the definitive reference, and a complete set is rare. Pierre Daix and Georges Boudaille catalogued the years 1900 to 1906 (Ides et Calendes, 1966), covering the Blue and Rose periods; Georges Bloch catalogued the engravings; Fernand Mourlot the lithographs; and Brassaï and David Douglas Duncan photographed the man and his studio (Les Picasso de Picasso, 1961). Monographs by Daix, Penrose, Cabanne, and Richardson round out a library.

Exhibition catalogues, meanwhile, hold documentary value: the New York retrospective of 1980, the Musée Picasso in Paris since 1985 (catalogues of the collections, Les Demoiselles d'Avignon), the Gianadda Foundation, and thematic exhibitions on the circus, portraiture, and photography. Many are out of print and can only be found in antiquarian bookshops.

Original prints or reproductions: how to tell the difference

It is the question that determines the price. An original print is pulled from the plate, stone or wood worked by the artist; a reproduction is an image printed from a work. The clues: the justification of the print run (number, number of copies, paper), the mention of the printer (Lacourière, Mourlot, Crommelynck, Arnéra), the plate mark of an etching, the grain of a lithograph, and above all the references from catalogues by Bloch, Mourlot or Cramer (Picasso, the illustrated books).

We include these references when they exist and we write ‘reproduction’ when it is one. Exhibition posters printed by Mourlot are an intermediate case: original lithographs for some, reprints for others; here again, the print run and the printer make the difference.

Features of our copies

Our current stock includes the definitive catalogue of the years 1900–1906 by Daix and Boudaille, Les Picasso de Picasso by David Douglas Duncan, Jacques Prévert’s Portraits de Picasso, lithographs catalogued in German, Apollinaire’s Ombre de mon amour, Louÿs’s Mimes des courtisanes illustrated by Picasso, and a series of catalogues from the Musée Picasso, the New York retrospective (1980), the Gianadda Foundation (Picasso et le cirque) and the Réunion des musées nationaux. Each entry specifies the process of the illustrations and the condition.

How we can help you

Looking for an out-of-print catalogue, a specific illustrated book or a complete set? Leave your address on this page (‘Notify me’) and you will be alerted as soon as a book on Picasso arrives in the shop. If you own illustrated books, definitive catalogues or lithographed posters, we can appraise and buy them for cash. Free delivery in France, reinforced packaging, returns within fourteen days.

Frequently asked questions

Does a book ‘illustrated by Picasso’ always contain original prints?

No. Many volumes reproduce drawings or paintings. Only livres de peintre produced in small numbers, with a justification of the print run and a mention of the printer, contain original prints. We indicate this on each entry.

What are the definitive catalogues of Picasso?

Zervos for paintings and drawings (33 volumes), Daix and Boudaille for 1900–1906, Bloch for engravings, Mourlot for lithographs, Cramer for illustrated books, Baer for the engraved œuvre. Complete sets are rare and sought-after.

Do exhibition catalogues have value?

They have documentary value and sometimes market value when they are out of print, well illustrated and in fine condition: catalogues from the Musée Picasso, major retrospectives, thematic exhibitions. Deluxe print runs of certain catalogues are rarer still.

Do you appraise books and posters by Picasso?

Yes. Send us photographs of the title page, the justification of impression and the illustrations: we will respond with an appraisal and, if you wish, a purchase offer.

To go further

Picasso is inseparable from the poets he illustrated and associated with: Guillaume Apollinaire, André Breton, Paul Verlaine for the illustrated editions from the early 20th century. Artist's books and catalogues are in the Fine books, art and bindings section; books related to the Surrealist movement are in the Surrealism section.

Do you own books by Picasso? We appraise and buy them.