Books

First edition, first printing, number 36 of 350 copies signed by the artist. La Celestina, a major work of Spanish literature first printed in 1499, here translated by Pierre Heugas, was illustrated by Picasso as part of the famous 347 series, for which Picasso etched 347 plates between March to October 1968, all printed by the Crommelynck brothers. Octavo. Original full parchment boards, lettering to front cover in black. Parchment and paper dust jacket, lettering to spine in black. Housed in a parchment covered slipcase. Housed in a black cloth flat-back box by the Chelsea Bindery. With 66 full page original etchings and aquatints of varying sizes dated between 11 April and 18 August, 1968, printed on Richard-de-Bas laid paper with La Célestine watermark. A fine copy in a fine slipcase. Cramer Illustrated Books No. 140; Bloch 1602.

La Celestina, originally titled Tragicomedia de Calisto y Melibea, is a Spanish literary work commonly regarded as one of the greatest works of all Spanish literature. Written by Fernando de Rojas, it offers a rich and ironic vision of human relations and the futility of human desires.