JAZZ | 1947, rare original Matisse portfolio, featuring two original lithographs executed by Matisse himself.

Extremely Rare Matisse Prospectus for Jazz, with Two Original Lithographs

Published by Tériade éditeur, Paris, 1947

A stunningly rare survival—the scarce publisher’s prospectus for Jazz, featuring two original lithographs after Henri Matisse’s pochoirs from the book. Issued in minuscule numbers to select collectors ahead of publication, this ephemeral piece is an essential companion to Jazz itself and, paradoxically, even rarer than the masterpiece it promotes.

Housed in the original grey-green paper portfolio, which reproduces Matisse’s handwritten Jazz title on the front and a vignette on the back. Inside, the prospectus includes:

• A lithographed title page replicating Matisse’s script, with a pasted-on 'Tériade éditeur' label.

• Four pages of Matisse’s transcribed Jazz text.

• A page with commentary by Kurt Martin.

• A facsimile manuscript page from Jazz.

• An index of plates and a bibliography of Matisse’s illustrated books.

• Most significantly, two magnificent double-page colour lithographs, L’enterrement de Pierrot and Le lanceur de couteaux, capturing the brilliance of the original pochoirs.

A near-fine, beautifully preserved example—exceedingly scarce in any state, almost unheard of in this condition. The closest one can come to owning Jazz itself, but with a rarity all its own.