La place de l'étoile

First edition of Patrick Modiano's first work, of which there were no deluxe copies and bearing the correct imprint of March 28, 1968, a Service de Presse (advance) copy.
Preface by Jean Cau.
Handsome copy expanded with a promotional band printed on the occasion of his first literary prize the following year.
Very rare signed autograph inscription by Patrick Modiano on this work: "Pour Marcel Arland avec ma vive admiration. Hommage de l'auteur. Modiano." ["For Marcel Arland with my keen admiration. Author's tribute. Modiano."]
Marcel Arland, co-director with Jean Paulhan of Editions Gallimard since 1953 and historical member of the Reading Committee of the famous publishing house, was thus responsible for discovering this very young 23-year-old author, future Nobel Prize winner in Literature.
Inscriptions by Patrick Modiano on his first novel are extremely rare.