Conrad, Joseph. An Outcast of the Islands. T. Fisher Unwin, London, 1896.

Price: US$7500.00 + shipping

Description: First edition, with "this" for "their" on p. 26, l. 31; "Absolution" for "ablution" p. 110, l. 12; "9" missing on p. 129; and "hate" for "fate" on p. 356, l. 26. Title-page in red and black. [ii, ads], [vi], 391, [1] pp. 1 vols. 8vo (200 x 135 mm). Presentation Copy, Inscribed. Presentation copy of the first edition, inscribed "From the author" on the front flyleaf (Galsworthy's copy, also a presentation, bore a similar inscription, Seeger part I, lot 9, Sotheby's, 10 July 2013). With a pencil note on the front pastedown that this copy was "Inscribed by the author to F.C. Redmayne. "The publication of Conrad's second book was plagued with problems. A fire destroyed the original electrotype plates late in 1895 and the book was hastily reset and proofed, leaving in an inordinate number of typos and dropped letters. The number of copies printed is unknown, but presentation copies as fine as this are rarely encountered. Cagle A2(2) binding a; Ehrsam, p. 293; Keating 4; Smith 2; Wise, Conrad 2 Publisher's green cloth, gilt spine title, gilt top edge. Minor browning to endleaves, else very fine Title-page in red and black. [ii, ads], [vi], 391, [1] pp. 1 vols. 8vo (200 x 135 mm) First edition, with "this" for "their" on p. 26, l. 31; "Absolution" for "ablution" p. 110, l. 12; "9" missing on p. 129; and "hate" for "fate" on p. 356, l. 26.

Seller: James Cummins Bookseller, ABAA, New York, NY, U.S.A.

CONRAD, Joseph.. An Outcast of the Islands.. London: T. Fisher Unwinn, 1896, 1896.

Price: US$9702.12 + shipping

Description: First edition, presentation copy, inscribed by Conrad on the front free endpaper, "With the Author's compliments". Presentation copies are scarce, particularly so in this condition. The printing of the first edition was fraught with difficulties: a fire destroyed the original electrotype plates and the first impression was hastily set, which resulted in numerous typographical errors (for example, "this" for "their" on p. 26, l. 31; "absolution" for "ablution" on p. 110, l. 12; and "hate" for "fate" on p. 356, l. 26). On publication, the novel was met with "sufficient high praise to confirm him in the choice of the literary career" (ODNB). Cagle A2a.1 (or 2); Wise 2; Wise, A Conrad Library, p. 2. Octavo. Original green cloth, spine lettered and ruled in gilt, top edge gilt, others untrimmed. Housed in a custom green quarter morocco folding box. Title page printed in red and black. Spine ends bumped, a few minor marks to cloth, endpapers browned, inner hinged partly cracked, but firm, contents clean. A near-fine copy.

Seller: Peter Harrington. ABA/ ILAB., London, United Kingdom