[Matisse] Marquet (Albert) & Marty (Marcelle) - Lot 84

[Matisse] Marquet (Albert) & Marty (Marcelle) Moussa le petit noir. G. Crès & Cie, Paris, 1925. First edition (24.7cm x 19.2 cm), 21 drawings in black, including 15 in the text and 6 full-page, as well as 5 watercolors in color by Jean Saudé, including 4 hors texte and one at the head of a chapter. Albert Marquet's first copy on madagascar, offered by him to Henri Matisse, a testimony to a lifelong friendship. "To Matisse, Marquet. Albert Marquet's (1875-1947) gift to Henri Matisse (1869-1954) brings together two of the most important "Fauvist" painters, who enjoyed a lifelong friendship, probably from their time at the Arts Décoratifs (1892), and especially as students at the Beaux-Arts and Gustave Moreau's studio in 1896-1898, alongside Rouault, Camoin, Bussy, Manguin... This story of Moussa, a black boy from Touggourt arriving in Algiers, was written by Marcelle Martinet, wife of Albert Marquet, under the pseudonym Marcelle Marty. The first edition (before 300 copies on Rives paper) is limited to 5 first copies on Japon paper and 60 copies on Madagascar paper, 15 of which are nominative hors commerce. The latter is enriched by a suite of drawings and color hors-texte on the same paper, not announced in the justification. Small paper split at foot and head of spine, margin of front cover slightly faded, brown stain on back cover. Provenance: Albert Marquet; Henri Matisse.