So, the Nova outburst of V392 Per is not unique after all. I found this interesting article describing Nova Cen 2009 (V1213 Cen) and it’s pre-Nova outbursts.
One other candidate (V1017 Sge – Nova Sgr 1919) was found to have a DNe type outburst 18 years before the Nova outburst and two following it, but although the light curve shape is the same as a classical Nova, V1017 Sgr is actually a symbiotic star and not a classical dwarf novae.
Maybe not unique then, but it’s still extremely rare – and interesting!
Gary