inscribed by the author to Georges Th. Guilbaud and René Leibowitz

First edition of Lévi-Strauss' masterwork, a four-volume study tracking a single myth from the tip of South America and all of its variations from group to group north through Central America and eventually into the Arctic Circle. In it, he traces the myth's cultural evolution from one end of the Western Hemisphere to the other.

Le Cru et le cuit is inscribed by the author on the half-title to his sometime collaborator, the mathematician Georges-Théodule Guilbaud: 'A G. Th. Guilbaud et au / groupe de mathématiques / sociales, / pardon pour l'algèbre ! / hommage amical / Levi Strauss'.

The remaining three volumes bear the author's signed presentation inscription to the renowned composer René Leibowitz, with whom Lévi-Strauss also collaborated: 'A René Leibowitz, au moment / d'une collaboration débutante qui / laisse craindre qu'au miel des pre- / miers projets ne succèdent des résultats les cendres, avec l'amitié / et l'admiration de / Claude Lévi-Strauss / 22/III/69' (Du miel aux cendres);

'A René Leibowitz, en lui disant / ma confusion si il n'ait pas en ce livre / que j'ai abandonné à lui-même dès sa / publication survenue en pleines grèves / de juin 68, certain que l'esprit du / public était désormais ailleurs, et / résigné à le voir sombrer dans un / oubli qui ne justifiait pas un service / de presse, en très amical hommage / Claude Lévi-Strauss / 22/III/69' (L'Origine des manières de table);

'A René Leibowitz, en / le remerciant pour son / aide. / Levi-Strauss' (L'Homme nu).

A rare complete example of the author's most important work, inscribed in each volume to two of his collaborators, from the library of Pierre Bergé.

First editions, first printings, inscribed by the author to Georges Th. Guilbaud (vol. I) and René Leibowitz (vols II-IV); 4 vols, 8vo; unmarked internally; original pictorial wrappers, extremities a little rubbed and tanned, small stain to top edge of rear cover of vol. IV, in the original glassine wrappers, a couple of nicks to extremities, else very good; housed in custom navy morocco-backed grey flat back folders and slipcases by Boichot.