Available Copies from Independent Booksellers
Conrad, Joseph. THE SECRET AGENT. Methuen, GB, 1907.
Price: US$176.75 + shipping
Condition: Good
Description: Burgundy cloth, gilt. 40 page September 1907 catalogue. Fairly clean tight text but minor spotting. In sound covers but spine bit faded and also quite marked at base. Book is in good double plus condition with noticeable signs of wear and/or age. Photos on request.
Seller: Richard Sylvanus Williams (Est 1976), WINTERTON, United Kingdom
Conrad, Joseph. The Secret Agent (UK HB 1st - 1907 RARE). Methuen, 1907.
Price: US$191.11 + shipping
Condition: Fair
Description: UK hardback first impression. Scarce With September 1907 catalogue to rear. The book is in original binding with a private circulation sticker to front board, but no other library signs. There is some quite heavy spotting, mainly limited to prelims. There is some bumping and rubbing to binding corners, and the ffep is starting to come away at bottom of join.
Seller: Hunter Books, Burnham, BUCKS, United Kingdom
Conrad, Joseph. The Secret Agent. A Simple Tale. Harper & Brothers, New York, 1907.
Price: US$500.00 + shipping
Description: First American edition. 373ppo. 1 vols. 8vo. Cagle has identified more than one hundred variants between the English and American editions, mostly "the type of corrections easily made in proof, " leading him to believe that Harpers set the text from uncorrected proofs supplied from Methuen. Smith 13; Cagle A12b, binding a; Keating 75; Conolly 100 15b Original blue pictorial cloth. Spine a bit cocked and edges sunned, a very good copy
Seller: James Cummins Bookseller, ABAA, New York, NY, U.S.A.
Joseph Conrad. The Secret Agent (1907). Methuen & Co, UK, 1907.
Price: US$611.54 + shipping
Description: Ref ZKVQ Hardback back red covers gold text to spine in average condition, some bumps to edges, Brown spots to page edges and end cover, sticker to first page, owners name and Gallery library under, stated second edition October 1907. The Secret Agent is set in the seedy world of Adolf Verloc, a storekeeper and double agent in late-Victorian London who pretends to sympathize with a group of international anarchists but reports on their activities to both the Russian embassy and the British government. As he is drawn further into a terrorist bombing plot, his family also becomes involved, with devastating consequences. Based on a real-life failed anarchist plot, The Secret Agent is both intimately engaged with its historical moment and profoundly relevant today. This new Broadview Edition helps to recreate the historical context that informed Conrad's preoccupations with global terrorism, human degeneration, the relativity of time, and the position of women. Size: Upstairs by RP A5 Red
Seller: Lady Lisa's Bookshop, Chester, United Kingdom
CONRAD, JOSEPH.. The Secret Agent. London: Methuen, 1907, 1907.
Price: US$1000.00 + shipping
Description: First Edition; first issue advertisements dated September, 1907 (although there is at least one copy known with ads dated July, 1907, possibly a freak, which may or may not have been issued earlier). A good copy. Haycraft-Queen cornerstone. All books described as first editions are first printings unless otherwise noted.
Seller: Peter L. Stern & Co., Inc, Newton, MA, U.S.A.
Conrad, Joseph. THE SECRET AGENT. A Simple Tale. , 1907.
Price: US$1450.00 + shipping
Description: London: Methuen & Co., (1907). 40 pp ads dated Sept 1907. Original deep red cloth with gilt-decorated spine. First Edition of Conrad's tale of espionage sited in Russia. The idea for the story came from an actual 1890s revolutionary attempt to blow up the Observatory at Greenwich. Conrad initially planned this to be a short story (titled "Verloc"); however, as he "got into" it, he lengthened it into a full-blown novel. He then strove to make it a popular novel, one that would provide him with the cash he needed to get out from under pressing debts; however, after an initial flourish, sales dropped off and the book was not reprinted until 1914, after the success of CHANCE reawakened interest in Conrad. The initial printing consisted of 2,500 copies, including 500 for the colonies plus 500 for Canada. However, the good initial reception of the book prompted the publisher to use the colonial copies for the domestic market instead, replacing the colonial half-title and title with the standard domestic one -- "there is no visible evidence of cancellation and for all practical purposes we must regard these copies as indistinguishable from the regular domestic issue" [Cagle]. This is a very good-plus copy (minor rubbing at the corners, spine slightly faded as usual); the original endpapers are intact, and atypically there is no foxing. In our experience LORD JIM, YOUTH and THE SECRET AGENT are the toughest of Conrad's first published editions to find in collectible condition. Supino A12.1.0; Cagle A12a(1); a "Modern Library 100" selection and a "Connolly 100 Key Books of the Modern Movement" selection. Provenance: Indiana University bookplate of Fred Bates ["Pappy"] Johnson (1880-1963), who as an Indianapolis newspaperman was instrumental in the formation of IU's School of Journalism; he later went into the law.
Seller: Sumner & Stillman [ABAA], Yarmouth, ME, U.S.A.
Joseph Conrad. The Secret Agent. Methuen, 1907.
Price: US$1450.00 + shipping
Condition: Very Good
Description: "The Secret Agent. A Simple Tale" by Joseph Conrad. Methuen, London. 1907 first UK edition first issue. 40 pp. advertisements at end dated September 1907, a little minor spo1tting, front endpaper toned with small hole and offsetting from covered over bookplate opposite, hinges cracking but holding, original red cloth, spine lettered and decorated in gilt, spine ends and joints a little rubbed, light edge wear, small ink spot to upper cover. Overall, a very good copy of Conrad's famous work. The author's acclaimed political masterpiece and first modern novel on terrorism and counter-espionage.
Seller: Neverland Books, waalre, Netherlands
Conrad, Joseph. The Secret Agent. Methuen & Co. London 1907, 1907.
Price: US$1500.00 + shipping
Condition: Near Fine
Description: First edition, first Issue with "be be" on final line of page 117 and the 40 pages of inserted ads dated September 1907 at the rear. A bright, tight copy. One of Conrad's best works - a stunning novel of detection, espionage and terrorism. Octavo. Original red cloth, titles and decoration to spine gilt. Near fine condition. Just a few light spots to preliminary leaves. Spine cloth slight sun fading and very minor wear at extremities; signature of J. Mason Hargreave on front flyleaf. In a custom full leather covered clamshell box. A very bright, tight, handsome copy.
Seller: Different Drummer Books, Niantic, CT, U.S.A.
Conrad, Joseph. THE SECRET AGENT. A Simple Tale. , 1907.
Price: US$1750.00 + shipping
Description: London: Methuen & Co., (1907). 40 pp ads dated Sept 1907. Original deep red cloth with gilt-decorated spine. First Edition of this tale of espionage sited in Russia. The idea for the story came from an actual 1890s revolutionary attempt to blow up the Observatory at Greenwich. Conrad initially planned this to be a short story (titled "Verloc"); however, as he "got into" it, he lengthened it into a full-blown novel. He then strove to make it a popular novel, one that would provide him with the cash he needed to get out from under pressing debts; however, after an initial flourish, sales dropped off and the book was not reprinted until 1914, after the success of CHANCE reawakened interest in Conrad. The initial printing consisted of 2,500 copies, including 500 for Canada and 500 intended for the colonies; however, the good initial reception of the book prompted the publisher to use the colonial copies for the domestic market instead, replacing the colonial half-title and title with the standard domestic one -- "there is no visible evidence of cancellation and for all practical purposes we must regard these copies as indistinguishable from the regular domestic issue" [Cagle]. This is a very good-plus, perhaps near-fine copy: there is some light speckling of the cloth mainly near some edges, and there is an early ink signature and (personal library?) number at the top of the title page. The original endpapers show no cracking, there is scarcely any of the often-pervasive foxing, and atypically the spine is NOT faded. In our experience LORD JIM, YOUTH and THE SECRET AGENT are the toughest of Conrad's first published editions to find in collectible condition. Supino A12.1.0; Cagle A12a(1); a "Modern Library 100" selection and a "Connolly 100 Key Books of the Modern Movement" selection.
Seller: Sumner & Stillman [ABAA], Yarmouth, ME, U.S.A.
CONRAD, Joseph.. THE SECRET AGENT. A Simple Tale.. London: Methuen & Co., 1907., 1907.
Price: US$1783.66 + shipping
Description: First edition, first impression (adverts dated 1907; misprint at p.117 reads ?be be? for ?to be?), pp.(iii),442,40(publisher?s adverts), uncut, red cloth, gilt, decorative gilt motifs to spine; pictorial ownership bookplate to front paste-down endpaper, foxing to prelims and to fore-edges (occasionally affecting margins), some rubbing to extremities, a very good, rather bright copy. (No dust-jacket).
Seller: Minster Gate Bookshop (est. 1970), YORK, United Kingdom
Conrad, Joseph. THE SECRET AGENT. Methuen & Co, London, 1907.
Price: US$2100.00 + shipping
Condition: Very Good
Description: First edition of one of Conrad's best novels, a thriller depicting terrorism in Edwardian London. Conrad's novel was partially inspired on true events, such as the botched bombing of a French anarchist in 1894, during "the first great terrorist wave of modern times" (Reiss). The book has recently seen a resurgence in interest and is now ranked among Conrad's most acclaimed: it is arguably "the most brilliant novelistic study of terrorism" (Reiss). 7.5'' x 4.5''. Original full red cloth, spine stamped with coral and seashell design and lettered in gilt. Bottom edge uncut. 40 pages of ads dated September 1907 at rear. [6], 442, [2], 40 pages. Bookplate on front pastedown. Front hinge just cracking (still firm), light edgewear around spine, corners bumped, spine slightly dulled.
Seller: Type Punch Matrix, Silver Spring, MD, U.S.A.
CONRAD, Joseph.. The Secret Agent. A simple tale.. Methuen & Co. [1907], 1907.
Price: US$2102.17 + shipping
Description: FIRST EDITION, first issue. Half title, 40pp cata. (Sept. 1907); some spotting to prelims. Orig. maroon cloth, spine lettered & dec. in gilt; v. sl. rubbed & marked. Armorial bookplate of Robert Crewe-Milnes (styled 'Roberti Comitis de Crewe') on leading pastedown. A v.g. bright copy. Wise 17. An examination of the inevitable tyrannies of structures (including, of course, the structure of revolutionary groups). Conrad's own masterfully fragmented structure is ruthlessly modern; he allows the reader to know more than the characters, but still immerses the reader in anarchy, fear, and confusion. Patrick Reilly called it 'a terrorist text as well as a text about terrorism'. The Victorian atmosphere, however, is perfectly judged, with anarchists plotting in backstreets and boarding houses. One of the author's greatest novels. Robert Crewe-Milnes was a Liberal M.P. and the Earl of Crewe. It is interesting to wonder what this moderate establishment figure made of this disjointed story of destruction and terrorism.
Seller: Jarndyce, The 19th Century Booksellers, London, United Kingdom
CONRAD, Joseph (1857-1924). The Secret Agent [First Issue]. Methuen, London, 1907.
Price: US$2149.00 + shipping
Description: First Impression (one of only 2500 copies), First Issue ("be be" on final line of p. 117, six additional text error as noted by Smith, and publisher's catalogue dated September 1907), of the "earliest and best novel portraying the character and fate of a double agent." (Barzun & Taylor) Crown 8vo: [6],442,[2],40pp. Publisher's ruby-red bold-ribbed cloth, spine lettered and ornamented in gold, fore- and bottom edges untrimmed; bookplate of A. Beresford Ryley to front paste-down. Foxing to front blank, small gutter stain (not affecting text) to pp. 212-17, faint rubbing to spine edges, else an excellent example and scarce such. Keating 73-74. Wise 17. Connolly 15 ("Conrad's greatest heroine.").Cagle A12a(1). Barzun & Taylor 903. Haycraft-Queen cornerstone. Ehrsam, p. 304. Smith 13. Modern Library 100, 46. A tale of anarchists in late nineteenth-century London, which originally appeared serially in Ridgeway's Weekly. "The plot centres on an attempt to bomb the London Observatory in Greenwich, inspired by a real incident of 1894. The chosen site is of great significance, in terms of science, empire and fame. In 1884, the Prime Meridian Conference established Greenwich as the point from which time would be measured. Though much of the rest of the world was initially resistant, and time was not centred on Greenwich by Europe and America until the International Conference on Time in Paris in 1912, the Prime Meridian Conference also divided the world into twenty-four zones separated by an hour's difference, and enshrined an exact moment at which the universal space-time day would begin." (Literary Encyclopedia) N. B. With few exceptions (always identified), we only stock books in exceptional condition, with dust jackets carefully preserved in archival, removable polypropylene sleeves. All orders are packaged with care and posted promptly. Satisfaction guaranteed. (Fine Editions Ltd is a member of the Independent Online Booksellers Association, and we subscribe to its codes of ethics.).
Seller: Fine Editions Ltd, Lancaster, PA, U.S.A.
Conrad, Joseph. The Secret Agent. Methuen, London, 1907.
Price: US$2950.00 + shipping
Condition: Very Good
Description: First edition of one of Conrad's best, and scarcest, novels. Original vertically ribbed burgundy cloth with spine lettering and decoration in gilt. [i-viii, 1-442, [443-444] + 40pp catalogue dated September 1907. One of 2,500 copies printed, which includes an unknown number of copies for Colonial issue. The domestic issue may have comprised as few as 1,500 copies. Ehrsam 2256, Wise 17; #15 in Connolly's 100 key books of Modernism. Sunning to spine and very light foxing to prelims else a clean and tight copy with no previous ownership inscriptions. Distinctly rare in such good condition.
Seller: Dr Jeremy Parrott, London, United Kingdom
CONRAD, Joseph.. The Secret Agent.. London Methuen, 1907.
Price: US$3327.50 + shipping
Description: First edition, first impression, first issue with 40pp. publisher's catalogue (dated September 1907) at end (final leaf of catalogue toned); 8vo; publisher's red cloth, titles to spine gilt, two corners lightly bumped, three tiny ink spots to spine, but an exceptional copy of a true masterpiece. Conrad's thriller was based on a true incident of the late nineteenth century - a bombing in Greenwich Park. His treatment of the psychology of his protagonists in this novel is truly one of his greatest achievements. A Haycraft Queen cornerstone. Copies in this condition are not common.
Seller: Shapero Rare Books, London, United Kingdom
Conrad, Joseph. THE SECRET AGENT. A Simple Tale. , 1907.
Price: US$4250.00 + shipping
Description: [the Charlie Watts copy] London: Methuen & Co., (1907). 40 pp ads dated Sept 1907. Original deep red cloth with gilt-decorated spine. First Edition of Conrad's tale of espionage sited in Russia. The idea for the story came from an actual 1890s revolutionary attempt to blow up the Observatory at Greenwich. Conrad initially planned this to be a short story (titled "Verloc"); however, as he "got into" it, he lengthened it into a full-blown novel. He then strove to make it a popular novel, one that would provide him with the cash he needed to get out from under pressing debts; however, after an initial flourish, sales dropped off and the book was not reprinted until 1914, after the success of CHANCE reawakened interest in Conrad. The initial printing consisted of 2,500 copies, including 500 for the colonies and 500 for Canada. However, the good initial reception of the book prompted the publisher to use the colonial copies for the domestic market instead, replacing the colonial half-title and title with the standard domestic one -- "there is no visible evidence of cancellation and for all practical purposes we must regard these copies as indistinguishable from the regular domestic issue" [Cagle]. This is a bright, close-to-fine copy (slight rubbing at the corners, spine with very little of the usual fading); the original endpapers are intact, and the foxing is limited to a few leaves at each end. In our experience LORD JIM, YOUTH and THE SECRET AGENT are the toughest of Conrad's first published editions to find in collectible condition. Cagle A12a(1); a "Modern Library 100" selection and a "Connolly 100 Key Books of the Modern Movement" selection. Provenance: unusual skull bookplate of "PMF". This copy came from the amazing literary library of the late Rolling Stones drummer Charlie Watts (Christie's London sale, lot 395, September 2023); he did not use a bookplate, but this copy appears in the sale catalogue, along with mention of the afore-mentioned "PMF" bookplate (we'll include a copy of this listing).
Seller: Sumner & Stillman [ABAA], Yarmouth, ME, U.S.A.
Conrad, Joseph. The Secret Agent. Methuen & Co, London, 1907.
Price: US$6000.00 + shipping
Condition: Fine
Description: First Edition, First Printing with the 40 pages of inserted ads at the rear. A beautiful copy SIGNED by Joseph Conrad on a laid in signature. This First Issue book is bound in the ORIGINAL publisher's red cloth. The binding is tight with NO cocking or leaning. The boards are crisp with minor wear to the edges. The pages are clean with NO writing, marks or bookplates in the book. Overall, a wonderful copy of this TRUE FIRST EDITION SIGNED by the author with a custom acetate dustjacket to protect the book. We buy Joseph Conrad First Editions.
Seller: Magnum Opus Rare Books, Missoula, MT, U.S.A.