[LOUIS ARMSTRONG] PANASSIÉ, Hugues (1912-1974). Louis Armstrong. Paris: Editions du Belvédère, 1947.

First edition, first impression. Signed by Hugues Panassié, a host of jazz luminaries, and multiply signed by Louis Armstrong.

Inscribed for Jacques Richard and the Hot Club of Toulon during the Nice Jazz Festival, 22-28 February 1948, organised by Panassié as a showcase for “le vraie jazz” (the real jazz). Signed by Panassié in blue ballpoint pen on blank before half-title, by Armstrong in blue ink on his frontispiece portrait ‘Louis Armstrong’ and in green ink below his portrait on an interior plate ‘Satchmo Armstrong’.

Octavo (219 x 159 mm). Portrait frontispiece and eight further monochrome plates from photographs. Original light card printed wraps, with dust jacket. Housed in a modern custom black morocco-entry slip case with matching chemise. Provenance: Jacques Richard (ownership inscription to front cover).