The magnificent binding by Paul Bonet (1889-1971), together with the eight autograph letters by the great French scholar, probably make this exemplar of Proust’s best-known masterpiece the finest ever to be produced.

The eight autograph letters are addressed to the following people: 1. Fernand Gregh, 6 June 1910, six pages in octavo format, sealed envelope. 2. Bernard Grasset, Proust’s first publisher, 18 July 1918, nine pages in octavo format. The letter concerns the matter of the author’s rights and the publication of Jeunes filles en fleurs by Gallimard. 3. Princess Bibesco, to whom Proust writes seven pages asking her to procure him an invitation to a ball thrown by Philippe de Chimay at Washington Palace. He does not want to ask André de Fouquières, but he really wants to attend the event (fig. 1). 4. Albert Nahmias, a youngbank clerk whom Proust had entrusted with various financial transactions and whom he hired to copy his documents and manuscripts, four pages. 5. Albert Nahmias, financial dispute that Proust concludes with “Pres du coeur Marcel”, four pages. 6. Binet-Valmer, unpublished letter, 24 July 1921. Proust wants his name cited in Comoedia and denies “d’avoir du génie”, eight pages. 7. Louis de Robert, unfinished letter on friendship (Fig. 2) four pages. 8. Princess Bibesco, April 1918, touching letter, written after the suicide of Emmanuel Bibesco, twelve pages.

Roberto Cena