Having recently come across this book—a book I had never heard of before and feared I'd never again come across (it cost $85)—I felt duty-bound to at least photograph as much of it as I could before I pissed off the guy behind the counter.
The book is a part of the Limited Editions Club. As AbeBooks explains, "The Limited Editions Club of New York was started in 1929 by George Macy. At 29-years-old, he was an avid reader who wanted to make his living from books. His business revolved around publishing beautifully illustrated classic titles in relatively small quantities with club members paying a subscription."
From the accompanying pamphlet:
"[Picasso] is a charming person to talk with, a horrifyingly difficult person to do business with. It is probably that only the fact that we suggested a book he liked caused him to undertake the commission.
'When I first got in touch with Picasso in Paris, he said he was willing to illustrate the book for a very stiff price. I agreed. I was in Paris again when Picasso had finished the plates, and I sought to take them from his apartment. But he insisted on treating the transaction on a no-trust basis. He made me send to America for the money with which to pay him; he made me hand him the actual cash with my left hand while he handed me the plates with his left hand.'"
Some sample illustrations:
 |
| "Five days later, in the same place. Late afternoon." |
 |
| "Kinesias: A plague on the war. It's you I'm after." |
 |
| "Lysistrata: Henceforth, the war's a woman's business." |
