L'Etranger

L'Étranger [The Stranger]First edition first issue for which no grand papier (deluxe) copies were printed, one of the rare first printed copies, no false statement of edition.
Bound in chocolate-brown box calf, spine in five compartments, smooth date, spine and boards recovered with a geometric and abstract decoration produced with the help of inlaid, glazed pieces of Havana box calf set with gilt and silver fillets, marbled Havana box calf inner covers, chocolate-brown buckskin endpapers, wrappers and spine preserved, all edges gilt, slipcase lined with chocolate-brown box calf, brown silk boards, interior chocolate buckskin, superb and elegant inlay signed by Leroux.
Ex-libris glued on an endpaper.
This first edition of L'Étranger was printed on April 12, 1942, with a print run of 4 400 copies, divided into eight notional “editions” of 550 copies. Thus, most of the copies have a false statement of the second to eighth edition on their lower cover.
As paper was rare in 1942 and Albert Camus was then an unknown writer, Gallimard did not print any luxury paper copies. Copies without false statement of edition are particularly sought after.
An incredibly beautiful copy set in a perfect lined and inlaid binding.