Georges Hugnet & Pablo Picasso — La Chèvre-Feuille, Six Picasso Zincographs, Limited First Edition No. 400/525 (Paris, 1943)

HUGNET, GEORGES; illustrated by PABLO PICASSO.
La Chèvre-Feuille.
Paris: Robert-J. Godet, December 4, 1943.

First edition of Georges Hugnet’s collection of 27 Surrealist love poems, illustrated with six full-page zincographs after compositions created by Pablo Picasso for the publication.

One of 500 standard copies printed on Lafuma wove paper, numbered 26–525; this is copy 400. The complete edition comprised 534 copies, including 25 deluxe copies on Arches paper accompanied by an original etching and additional suites, plus nine hors-commerce copies.

Quarto, in the publisher’s original French-fold printed wrappers lettered in black and green. Retains the uncommon original wraparound promotional band and the separately printed single-sheet notice, Pour Georges Hugnet.

Published in German-occupied Paris, La Chèvre-Feuille celebrates the first anniversary of Hugnet’s encounter with the woman symbolized as honeysuckle—the “chèvre-feuille” of the title. Picasso’s sensuous, linear female figures complement the poems’ erotic and dreamlike imagery. The book is listed in the principal Picasso illustrated-book and print catalogues.

Edition: First edition, copy 400 of 525 numbered copies; total edition of 534.
Illustrations: Six unsigned zincographs by Picasso.
References: Cramer, Pablo Picasso: The Illustrated Books, 38; Bloch 361a–e; Baer 683–688.
Additional material: Original wraparound band and Pour Georges Hugnet announcement sheet.
Format: Quarto in original printed wrappers.
Condition: Spine darkened and wrappers soiled. Approximately 3-inch closed tear at the foot of the spine and a substantial repaired chip, approximately 3½ × 4 inches, to the rear wrapper. Contents remain very good.