"... je la palpe et je la hume pour tenter d'accorder l'essence particulière du tabac que j'y mettrai avec celui dont elle conserve encore le relent..."

Autograph letter dated and signed, addressed to Nadine Nimier from the laboratory of social anthropology at the Collège de France, 23 lines in blue ink, concerning the sending of a snuff box as a gift.
Folds inherent to posting, a small tear in the right margin of the letter at the fold level.
Claude Lévi Strauss expresses his overwhelming gratitude: "Moved, touched, confused, what do I know and what more can I do?" ("Emu, touché, confus, que sais-je et que puis-je encore ?") for it is a delight to his senses: "... I feel it and breathe it in to try to match the particular essence of the tobacco I will put in it with that of which it still retains the lingering scent: something strong, rich and rustic at the same time that will also suit the dark wood and the warm gleams of the metals..." ("... je la palpe et je la hume pour tenter d'accorder l'essence particulière du tabac que j'y mettrai avec celui dont elle conserve encore le relent : quelque chose de fort, de riche et de rustique en même temps qui conviendra aussi au bois sombre et aux chaleureux éclats des métaux...")
He praises his correspondent's kindness and shows himself equally touched by the fact that Nadine Nimier took the time and attention to think of him: "It is really too much kindness - and the attentive care of the searcher touches me no less than her present. A thousand thanks, dear Nadine..." ("C'est trop de gentillesse vraiment - et le soin attentif de la fureteuse ne me touche pas moins que son présent. Mille fois merci, chère Nadine...")