422. GUSTAVE FLAUBERT (1821-1880) French novelist and pioneer and master of the Realist school, his first novel, Madame Bovary, brought legal prosecution on the basis of immorality. Scarce A.L.S. "Gu. Flaubert", 1p. 8vo., [n.p., n.d.], in French, likely to his friend and fellow writer Edmond LaPorte (his initials stamped at lower-left). In part: "...Saturday I am feeling well. What time should I be at the station? And which station? It seems to me that the visit to Lisors should not take more than two or three hours. So, the afternoon should be enough time...arrange everything and I will obey..." He adds cryptically: "And the lady sewing machine technician?" Fine. This letter was likely penned around Oct. 11, 1874. Six days later, Flaubert and LaPorte visited a model farm at Lisors to undertake research for his book Bouvard et Pecuchet, a biting satire on mediocrity published in an unfinished state the year after Flaubert's death. $800-900