Marcel PROUST

A very long, unpublished, signed autograph letter from Marcel Proust to Maurice Levaillant, written in black ink and with its envelope marked “personal” in Proust's hand. A humorous typo by the author on this same envelope, marking it “au Figao” [sic].
A few underlinings in Proust's hand.
On 10 December 1919, which is to say a few months before writing this letter, Proust completed his quest for the Holy Grail: In the Shadow of Young Girls in Flower won the Goncourt Prize. With six votes to four, the “old” writer pipped his young competitor Roland Dorgelès to the post, whose very promising Wooden Crosses was tipped as favorite. “The prize brought...

First edition on ordinary paper with the correct date of printing of 8 November 1913; Nrf covers, second impression title page with the typographic error to Grasset corrected, Gallimard sales label from 1917.
Half blue morocco over marbled paper boards by Thomas Boichot, spine in six compartments, gilt date to foot, blue paper pastedowns and endpapers, covers preserved, top edge gilt.
A few small wormholes mostly affecting covers, ink ex dono to head of upper cover.
A nicely bound copy. 

First edition, second issue, on ordinary paper, with the printer's date of 8 November 1913, and the corrected typographic error to Grasset on the title page, without the index.
Half grey morocco by Thomas Boichot, spine in six compartments, date at foot, covers and spine mounted on guards, top edge gilt, slipcase trimmed with grey morocco.

Inscribed copy to Count Primoli: “Hommage d'attachement respectueux et bien vif [As a token of my respectful and heartfelt affection].” 

Joseph Napoléon, Count Primoli (1851-1927), was the great nephew of Napoleon Bonaparte. Closely tied to the imperial family during the Second...