Title:
Pablo Picasso ALS to Financial Advisor Max Pellequer, Dated December 28, 1953 — PSA/DNA Certified, Graded NM-MT 8 (Cert #85476219)

Description:
Offered here is a handwritten letter signed (ALS) by Pablo Picasso, penned on December 28, 1953, from Vallauris, the small town in the south of France where he spent some of his most creatively fertile postwar years. The letter is addressed to Max Pellequer, Picasso’s longtime friend, art collector, and trusted financial advisor for more than three decades.

Written in French and signed boldly “Picasso” at the close, the letter appears on a lightly toned sheet showing some water staining and age wear, but remains highly legible and visually striking, with the artist’s trademark sweeping autograph displayed prominently.

This letter has been authenticated and encapsulated by PSA/DNA, with an auto grade of NM-MT 8 and certification number 85476219. It is housed in a tamper-proof PSA slab for long-term preservation and presentation.

Historical Context:
In the late 1940s, Picasso relocated to Vallauris, a serene Provençal town known for its vibrant ceramic tradition. From 1948 to 1955, he devoted himself to mastering pottery at the Madoura workshop, producing thousands of ceramic works that blended antiquity with his radical modernist vision. Vallauris also became the birthplace of some of his most powerful political statements, including the monumental mural “War and Peace”, now housed in the town's chapel-turned-museum.

The recipient of this letter, Max Pellequer, played a crucial role in Picasso’s life. Introduced to Picasso in 1914 by his uncle-by-marriage, art patron André Level, Pellequer quickly became one of Picasso’s earliest collectors, purchasing a bronze sculpture from the legendary dealer Ambroise Vollard. Over the following decades, Pellequer became Picasso’s personal banker and advisor, managing his finances throughout the upheavals of the 1930s and 1940s and ensuring his postwar stability.

Thanks in large part to Pellequer's stewardship, Picasso was able to settle in Vallauris and pursue ceramics, sculpture, and painting with unmatched intensity. Their relationship was not merely transactional—Picasso created a copperplate ex-libris for Pellequer, gifted him rare works, and helped him amass a world-class collection of modern art, including works by Cézanne, Matisse, Gauguin, Miró, Degas, Léger, Modigliani, and others. Many of these now reside in premier museums worldwide.

This particular letter, penned during the height of Picasso’s Vallauris period, reflects both their personal and professional closeness.

Authentication & Encapsulation:
This artifact has been certified by PSA/DNA and assigned the Auto Grade NM-MT 8, with unique Certification Number 85476219.

• The letter is slabbed in a PSA hard case for preservation and display.

• All handwriting and signature are confirmed to be in Pablo Picasso’s hand.

• Additional Documentation & Provenance: At buyer’s request, Historical Autographs Gallery will include an additional “Historical Autographs Gallery Certificate” signed by our company founder Luke Pascal at no cost.

Closing Appeal:
This is a superb investment-grade artifact, showcasing the personal correspondence between Pablo Picasso and Max Pellequer, a man who not only secured the artist’s fortune but helped shape the trajectory of his postwar career. Letters from Picasso during this era—especially those referencing close confidants and sent from Vallauris, where his artistic reinvention took full bloom—are highly prized. The combination of museum-worthy provenance, iconic signature, and PSA encapsulation makes this an extraordinary addition to any serious collection of fine art or historical autographs.

Shipping Notice:
For insurance purposes, items sold over $600 may require signature confirmation upon delivery. Higher-value items, likely over $1,500, are shipped via FedEx 2-Day with Direct Signature Confirmation. FedEx provides the most flexibility when requiring a signature, allowing you to make special delivery requests directly through their tracking system. This ensures both security and convenience for the buyer.