Available Copies from Independent Booksellers
Conrad, Joseph. The Secret Agent A Drama in Three Acts. T Werner Laurie Ltd, London, 1923.
Price: US$200.00 + shipping
Condition: Fine
Description: 185p octavo, a fine copy bound in 3/4 blue morocco and blue cloth. Appears to be one of the signed limiuted copies produced by this publisher. This copy without the signed limitation page and bound differently. Conrad Bibliography lists this title as a vellum bound with a signed limitation page.
Seller: Old New York Book Shop, ABAA, Atlanta, GA, U.S.A.
Price: US$375.00 + shipping
Description: Signed by Conrad on the limitation page. Limited edition, this being number 581 of 1000 copies. 8vo. [vi], 185pp.; with frontispiece portrait from photograph. Cagle A54b. Very good with spine darkened, some spotting to binding. Original Japanese vellum backed sage green boards, paper spine label, edges untrimmed, mostly unopened.
Seller: Nelson Rare Books, ABAA, Haddonfield, NJ, U.S.A.
Conrad, Joseph. THE SECRET AGENT: A Drama in Three Acts. T. Werner Laurie Ltd., London, 1923.
Price: US$600.00 + shipping
Description: First edition, limited issue. Number 245 of 1,000 SIGNED, numbered and specially bound copies. Play based on his 1907 book of the same name. Spine a little tanned otherwise near fine in very good or better dust jacket with internal archival tape repair to split at hinge.
Seller: Quill & Brush, member ABAA, Middletown, MD, U.S.A.
Price: US$600.00 + shipping
Description: First edition thus. Number 347 of 1000 copies, signed by Conrad. [x], 186 pp. 1 vols. 8vo. Conrad first dramatized The Secret Agent in 1920 in four acts, and in 1921, 53 copies were privately printed in Canterbury by H. J. Goulden. The play was produced in London in 1922. This version followed that, and was later republished in 1934 by Methuen and Co. in Three Plays. Smith, p. 112; Cagle A54 Boards backed with parchment, uncut and unopened. Fine copy with just a touch of toning to spine ends. In soiled dustjacket First edition thus. Number 347 of 1000 copies, signed by Conrad.
Seller: James Cummins Bookseller, ABAA, New York, NY, U.S.A.
Price: US$750.00 + shipping
Description: Second English edition, for subscribers only; one of 1000 numbered copies signed by Conrad, this being number 127. 185 pp. 8vo. SIGNED. This was Conrad's dramatization of his 1907 novel of the same name, preceded by a 52-copy private issue (.in Four Acts; Canterbury, 1922). For this signed edition it was decided to combine the shorter third act into the second act (as Act II, Scene III). Supino B2.12.0 Light blue cloth boards, white spine with white spine label pasted down. Signed in black ink by Conrad on colophon page. In dust jacket with pasted down label on spine, tear on dust jacket along top front at spine, toning along spine, and bumped foot of spine; overall a near fine copy Second English edition, for subscribers only; one of 1000 numbered copies signed by Conrad, this being number 127.
Seller: James Cummins Bookseller, ABAA, New York, NY, U.S.A.
Price: US$968.70 + shipping
Description: First edition thus of Conrad's dramatisation of his 1907 novel, number 285 of 1,000 copies signed by the author, and very scarce retaining the dust jacket in such nice condition. "The Secret Agent received a high-profile, if short, run at the Ambassadors Theatre in November 1922. Although some acquaintances of Conrad - including Hastings and Galsworthy - could be harsh in their condemnation of Conrad's theatrical naïveté, others were more supportive. Particularly noteworthy in this regard is Arnold Bennett, who believed that The Secret Agent as a play was 'the best I have seen for a very, very long time, and by a long way the best'. As for its disappointing run, Bennett contended that the play was simply ahead of its time for a London theatre scene fed on dishonest pap" (Hand, Joseph Conrad in Context, p. 94). In 1921 Conrad had a piece entitled "The Secret Agent. Drama in Four Acts" privately printed in a run of 52 copies only, this revised text derived from the script for the run at the Ambassadors the next year. Octavo. Original vellum-backed pale blue boards, label to spine printed in red, pale blue endpapers, fore and bottom edges untrimmed. With dust jacket. Photogravure portrait frontispiece with tissue guard. Fine, in near-fine jacket with hint of sunning and rubbing; a very sharp copy.
Seller: Peter Harrington. ABA/ ILAB., London, United Kingdom
Conrad, Joseph. The Secret Agent. T. Werner Laurie, LTD. London, 1923.
Price: US$1000.00 + shipping
Condition: Near Fine
Description: SIGNED/LIMITED EDITION authentically SIGNED by Joseph on the limitation page. An attractive copy of this limited edition of 1000 copies printed with light wear to the spine and edges. The binding is tight and the pages are clean with minor wear. There is NO marks or bookplates in the book. A collectable copy SIGNED by the author.
Seller: Magnum Opus Rare Books, Missoula, MT, U.S.A.
Price: US$1000.00 + shipping
Description: First edition thus. Number 867 of 1000 copies, signed by Conrad. Frontispiece portrait. [x], 186 pp. 1 vols. 8vo. For this edition the third act was subsumed as scene three of the second act, and some dialogue and stage directions were deleted by Conrad. Smith, p. 112; Cagle A54b; Keating 79 Boards backed with parchment, uncut and unopened. Fine copy with just a touch of toning to spine ends. In blue dustjacket Frontispiece portrait. [x], 186 pp. 1 vols. 8vo First edition thus. Number 867 of 1000 copies, signed by Conrad.
Seller: James Cummins Bookseller, ABAA, New York, NY, U.S.A.
Conrad, Joseph. The Secret Agent. T Werner Laurie,, 1923.
Price: US$2500.00 + shipping
Condition: Fine
Description: First Edition of 1000 copies privately printed for subscribers. This copy is authentically SIGNED by Joseph Conrad. A magnificent copy. The book is bound in the ORIGINAL green paper boards backed in vellum, with the paper spine label present. The binding is tight with slight wear to the edges. The pages are clean with NO marks or bookplates in the book. Overall, a fabulous copy SIGNED by the author in collector's condition. We buy SIGNED Conrad First Editions.
Seller: Magnum Opus Rare Books, Missoula, MT, U.S.A.