Cities of the Plain – Marcel Proust
VG 2-volume set

For sale: a Rare and Exceptional first limited, hardcover edition, first printing of Cities of the Plain by Marcel Proust in a  new archival wrap. First Uniform Edition stated, 1927 Albert and Charles Boni with title page also dated 1927.  First Printing with no subsequent printings listed on the copyright page.  This is the special numbered edition with the limitation page only appearing in  Volume 1. Numbered 501 (of 2000) on the copyright page. The first volume 1 is 352 pages and Volume 2 is 384 pages.

The exterior of the both volumes are in Very Good condition with clean, cloth wrapped spines and corners. The paper boards are silver and black stripes with heavy wear and a bit of sheen. The spine is lightly sunned with a lightly faded title and author’s name still legible. Both bindings are strong. with a few marks and smudges on page blocks, mild spine tilt, lightly rolled and rubbed spine ends, mild edge wear, and lightly rounded corners.

The interior of the book is in Near Fine condition with no marks, inscriptions or other signs of ownership. The illustrated end papers and the pages are clean and lightly toned with no foxing present. The pages of the Special Edition contain  Aventuros rag paper, and are all strong and flexible. Some page edges were roughly when opened.

No dust jacket.

-In Search of Lost Time Volume IV-Sodom and Gomorrah (Cities of the Plain) opens a new phase of In Search of Lost Time. While watching the pollination of the Duchess de Guermantes’s orchid, the narrator secretly observes a sexual encounter between two men. “Flower and plant have no conscious will,” Samuel Beckett wrote of Proust’s representation of sexuality. “They are shameless, exposing their genitals. And so in a sense are Proust’s men and women . . . shameless. There is no question of right and wrong.”

Ships promptly in a secure mailer with books wrapped in both craft paper and bubble wrap.