Available Copies from Independent Booksellers
CONRAD Joseph. The Nigger of the ?Narcissus?. Preface. [1902.], 1902.
Price: US$1911.06 + shipping
Description: First edition. 8vo., 8pp. As issued, without wrappers. Morocco backed slip-in case. Hythe, [Privately Printed for the author by] J. Lovick. Some rust-staining from one of the two staples, vertical fold, but crisp and unworn. Shortly after completing The Nigger of the ?Narcissus? Conrad wrote a preface for it, which the publishers declined to include in the published edition of the book. The author decided to print it privately, and had 100 copies run off (40 of these were said to have been destroyed later and this is supported by the item's considerable scarcity) by a jobbing printer. The text is described by Conrad's biographer Jocelyn Baines as ?supremely important for the understanding of Conrad's intention as an artist . . . together with the preface to A Personal Record, the finest piece of non-fictional prose that he wrote.? Conrad's enthusiasms often appear a little subdued, but this is not so here: ?And art itself may be defined as a single-minded attempt to render the highest kind of justice to the visible universe . . . an attempt to find in its forms, in its colours, in its light, in its shadows, in the aspects of matter and in the facts of life, what of each is fundamental, what is enduring and essential . . . the very truth of their existence. The artist then, like the thinker or the scientist, seeks the truth and makes his appeal.? The American book artist Leonard Baskin produced a fine edition of the text in 1966, with much critical apparatus, titled Conrad's Manifesto. Preface to a career.
Seller: Maggs Bros. Ltd ABA, ILAB, PBFA, BA, London, United Kingdom
Price: US$3000.00 + shipping
Description: First edition thus, one of 100 copies. 8 pp. 1 vols. 8vo. The First Separate Printing of Conrad's Artistic Credo. Privately printed separate edition of Conrad's preface to his novel The Nigger of the "Narcissus," originally suppressed from the book and first published in The New Review for December 1897. The preface, in effect Conrad's artistic statement, was extensively revised for this private edition. Rare. Cagle A3f; Wise 12 Stapled without wrappers as issued. Green half morocco slipcase and chemise. Bookplate of Charles Bain Hoyt
Seller: James Cummins Bookseller, ABAA, New York, NY, U.S.A.
Price: US$3000.00 + shipping
Description: First separate edition. One of 100 (40 were destroyed according to Conrad). 8 pp. 4to. Reprinted from the New Review of December 1897, although greatly revised, the preface to The Nigger of the "Narcissus" announced Conrad's artistic creed. It was not reprinted again until the second American edition of 1914. Cagle A3f; Wise 12; Supino B3.1.0 8 [pp.] leaves without wrapper as issued, previously stapled but staple has been removed to prevent further rust staining, else near fine. In blue chemise slip with original owner's bookplate, in blue morocco backed slipcase that has gilt lettering on spine First separate edition. One of 100 (40 were destroyed according to Conrad).
Seller: James Cummins Bookseller, ABAA, New York, NY, U.S.A.
Conrad, Joseph. The Nigger of the "Narcissus." Preface. [Privately printed, 1902.
Price: US$3500.00 + shipping
Description: Original self-wrappers, small rust mark from removed staple, otherwise fine. According to Wise approximately forty copies were accidentally destroyed. Conrad's "Preface," his most important artistic statement, originally appeared as "The Art of Fiction" in the December 1897 of the New Review, at the end of the novel's serialization, and was much revised for this first separate printing. Cagle A3f; Wise 12. First edition, one of 100 copies printed.
Seller: Thomas A. Goldwasser Rare Books (ABAA), CHESTER, CT, U.S.A.
Price: US$5000.00 + shipping
Description: 8vo, printed self-wrappers. Outermost leaves lightly dust-soiled, small area of offset from the absent staple, otherwise near fine. Outermost leaves lightly dust-soiled, small area of offset from the absent staple, otherwise near fine First edition of this preface, a 7pp. leaflet. One of 100 copies printed, of which approximately 40 copies, according to Conrad, were accidentally destroyed. This privately printed edition of the 'Preface' is a considerably revised version of that which appeared in the December 1897 issue of the New Review. Cagle A3f.
Seller: James S. Jaffe Rare Books, LLC, ABAA, Deep River, CT, U.S.A.