A la recherche du temps perdu

First edition including all the features of the first issue for Du Côté de chez Swann (Grasset printing error on the title-page, front cover with the date 1913, missing contents table, publisher's catalogue at rear). First edition on ordinary paper, one of the very rare first edition copies without a statement of edition for A l'ombre des jeunes filles en fleurs, from an edition of about 500 copies. Following volumes in first numbered editions on pur fil, only deluxe copies after the "réimposés".

Few small tears along the lower edge and a small crease mark to the upper cover of Du côté de chez Swann, with some foxing to the first two leaves; spine very faintly sunned and a marginal dampstain affecting three leaves not affecting the text in Du côté de Guermantes I; foxing to the inscribed leaves and opening leaves of Le Côté de Guermantes II – Sodome et Gomorrhe I and Sodome et Gomorrhe II-1, the latter with a small mark to the spine; marginal foxing to Sodome et Gomorrhe II-3; small lacks of paper at the foot of the spine and one at the lower right corner of the upper cover of La Prisonnière I; a small mark to the upper cover and a tiny tear at the foot of the spine of the first vol. of Albertine disparue; spine sunned and a discreet crease at the corner of the upper cover of the first vol. of Le Temps retrouvé, and a small mark to the lower cover of the last two volumes.
Complete collection of In Search of Lost Time including two important and precious presentation copies, signed and inscribed by Marcel Proust to Lucien Descaves, founding member of the Académie Goncourt:
- “à monsieur Lucien Descaves. / Respectueux hommage de l'auteur. / Marcel Proust” [to Monsieur Lucien Descaves. / Respectful tribute from the author. / Marcel Proust] on Le Côté de Guermantes II – Sodome et Gomorrhe I.
- “à monsieur Lucien Descaves. / Admiratif hommage. / Marcel Proust ” [to Monsieur Lucien Descaves. / Admiring tribute. / Marcel Proust] on Sodome et Gomorrhe II-1.

When in 1919, A l'ombre des jeunes filles en fleurs wins the Goncourt Prize despite the obstacles of fortune and Proust's age, Lucien Descaves disputes the award. He made no secret of his preference for the WW1 memoir by Dorgelès Les Croix de bois. In a letter to the Abbé Mugnier, Proust mentions this animosity: “I consider it regrettable that you learned [of the awarding of the Goncourt] from Monseiur Descaves because he must have accompanied this very small piece of news with derogatory remarks. Indeed, he has made a campaign against me and announced the result in these terms: “M. Proust has the prize, M. Dorgelès the originality of talent and youth. We cannot have it all.” Marcel Proust adds: “Do not think that I have the slightest bitterness against Monsieur Descaves. Those who do not like my books have the same opinion as me.” (XVIII, 333)
The two copies of Côté de Guermantes and Sodome that Proust addresses to his critic evidence the honesty of this statement and the respect that he has for the writer despite their difference of opinion.
For his part, “l'Ours” (the Bear), as Lucien Descaves called himself, took care of his copies, no doubt aware of the importance of this founding novel of modern literature.

In his study of Proust and the Goncourt, Luc Fraysse highlights that “the awarding of the Goncourt Prize to Proust in 1919, for A l'ombre des jeunes filles en fleurs, is a major literary event in the history of the 20^th century. [...] An unrivalled peak in the life of the Académie Goncourt [...] [and] a decisive and definitive turn in the evolution of [Proust's] literature [which] passes without transition from relative darkness to international glory. It is the Goncourt prize which made many people realise the scope and importance of Proust's work.”

Outstanding complete set of A la recherche du temps perdu as issued, with two precious presentation copies signed by Marcel Proust to Lucien Descaves, at once considered Proust's harshest critic and the very reason for his international renown.