Available Copies from Independent Booksellers
Price: US$9500.00 + shipping
Condition: Very Good
Description: "Les Plaisirs et les Jours" by Marcel Proust. Paris, Calmann Levy, 1896. First edition, signed presentation inscription from the authorto endpaper, illustrations by Madeleine Lemaire, later cloth, original wrappers (trimmed and window-mounted) bound-in, preserved in custom morocco-backed boards with gilt spine, 4to. Proust's first book, rare signed or inscribed. The recipient "Jules" has sadly had their last name comprehensively excised from the page. A collection of his early writings, Les Plaisirs et les Jours was sumptuously produced but met with only mild critical attention and disappointing sales. It's failure was a blow to Proust's confidence and led in part to the extended hiatus in his writing. An unique literary collector's item.
Seller: Neverland Books, waalre, Netherlands
Price: US$15472.74 + shipping
Condition: Fine
Description: A BEAUTIFUL PRESENTATION COPY, WARMLY INSCRIBED BY THE AUTHOR TO THE GREAT BIBLIOPHILE HORACE DE LANDAU. PROUST, Marcel. Les Plaisirs et les jours. Illustrations de Madeleine Lemaire. Preface d'Anatole France. Quatre pieces pour piano de Reynaldo Hahn. Paris, Calmann Levy, 1896. FIRST EDITION. 4to, pp. [2], X, 271 pp., [2]; with 14 plates out of the text and several illustrations in the text. Landau's bookplate. Beautiful dedication on the initial blank by Proust to Baron Landau: "A Monsieur Horace de Landau, comme un hommage de ma respecteuse, admirative et reconnaisante amitié Marcel Proust". Contemporary binding in half purple morocco, publisher's printed wrappers preserved. Pasteboard slipcase. Fine copy. Horace de Landau was an important 19th century banker and a great collector and bibliophile. Part of his famous library was donated to the city of Florence, the other was auctioned by Hoepli in 1945. The work is a collection of poems and prose on the world of the Parisian salons and cultural gatherings that Proust used to frequent. This is almost a representation in embryo of his immensely celebrated "Recherche".
Seller: Orsi Libri ALAI, ILAB, Milan, Italy