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Aristophanes and Pablo Picasso, Lysistrata, New York: Limited Editions Club, 1934

117 pages including 6 rare etchings and 34 in-text lithographs by Pablo Picasso; original decorative cream boards with designs by Pablo Picasso enclosed in original board chemise and slipcase.
11.75 x 9.5 x 0.75 in (30 x 24 x 2 cm)

From the colophon: Copy number 806 of this edition of Lysistrata. Hand numbered in crayon and signed by Picasso in pencil.

This is a new version by Gilbert Seldes, with a special introduction by him. This is an exceedingly rare, limited editions club book illustrated by Picasso and with his original signature.

Illustrated with six etchings in black by Picasso and thirty-four in-text lithographs printed in sanguine after drawings. This is the only American publication with original Picasso etchings, which are "among his most important in the Classical style," according to "The Artist and the Book."

Fifteen hundred copies were printed for members of The Limited Editions Club from the etchings and drawings made exclusively for this edition by Pablo Picasso, who signs this copy: Picasso. This edition has been designed by George Macy and printed, in Caslon types on Rives paper, at The Printing-Office of The Limited Editions Club, Westport, Connecticut with Julian E. Berla, manager; John F. McNamara, pressman; John T. Logan, stoneman.

From the Introduction: THE LYSISTRATA of Aristophanes is probably the oldest comedy which has a fairly permanent place in the modern theatre. It is a play written by the ancient Greek playwright Aristophanes in 411 BC. It is a comedic work that centers around a group of women who, in an effort to end the Peloponnesian War, refuse to have sex with their husbands until peace is achieved. The play is a commentary on the futility and absurdity of war and the power of women to effect change. Aristophanes has dealt with two themes, war and sexual love, neither of which has been affected by any change in fashion.

Picasso's artwork for this book has a classical style far removed from his more abstract and avant-garde work, but appropriate for this work. Picasso has signed the book on the final page, the Colophon page of the book. It is a large hardcover book, with the original patterned covers. Published 89 years ago, this Signed Limited Editions Club book is now exceedingly rare, the rarest of all Limited edition Books, and a key work for any collector of Picasso and his art.

The Limited Editions Club, was a publisher of fine, limited-edition books founded in 1929 by George Macy, who printed this book at their own printing shop in Westport, Connecticut. The company specialized in producing high-quality editions of classic works, with illustrations by some of the world's most famous artists. The Lysistrata edition was part of a series of books produced by the Limited Editions Club that featured illustrations by Picasso, including editions of Ovid's Metamorphoses and Balzac's Le Chef-d'oeuvre inconnu.

The book was designed by Macy, who had eagerly anticipated the book's production and praised Picasso's hand as "sure and confident," noting that the beauty of the etchings lay in their simplicity.

Today, the Lysistrata edition with Picasso's illustrations is highly sought after by collectors of fine art and rare books. It is a valuable and important piece of both literary and artistic history.