PICABIA FRANCIS: (1879-1953) French Painter and Poet. An Avant-garde artist associated with Cubism. Picabia was also one of the early main figures of the Dada movement. Rare A.L.S., `F. Picabia´, two pages, 4to, Paris, 32 Av. Charles Floquet, Monday, n.d., to a Colonel, in French. Picabia states in part `I have just learned about your visit to Paris. I very much regret not having met you´ further asking a service `Can you do me a small service regarding my friend Marcel Loridan, aviator who will be appointed Knight of the Legion d´Honneur in the month of July; it would be a question of knowing if his nomination is something more or less sure, as this information would be very useful for him to have it right now…´ Small creasing and minor age wear, mostly to edges, with a very small tear to the folding edge, not affecting the text or signature, otherwise G Marcel Loridan (1883-1971) French pioneer Aviator. Winner of the Michelin Cup, Loridan established in 1911 the world altitude record with his Farman biplane, and further also records for longest flights in time and distance. Loridan was a pilot in the French Army during the First World War, being awarded with the Croix de guerre 1914-1918.