JOSEPH CONRAD FIRST EDITIONS AT
ASH RARE BOOKS
43 HURON ROAD
LONDON SW17 8RE
UNITED KINGDOM

London : Methuen & Co., (1911). First edition. “The man who says he has no illusions has at least that one” – Conrad with his classic of terrorism, set variously in St. Petersburg and Geneva and published 5th October 1911. “Any hesitation seems to lie, not in over-estimating, but in doing justice to the rare truth and beauty of Mr. Conrad’s latest book. No Englishman could have written it” (The Sketch, 25th October 1911).
Crown 8vo (20cm). [viii],(378) + (32)pp advertisements dated September 1911. Original red cloth, lettered and decorated in gilt; just a touch sunned; a hint of bruising; mild tanning of endpapers, but a very good copy. With the pictorial bookplate, designed by Oswald Tozeau, of Brand Whitlock (1869-1934), American author, journalist, lawyer and politician.

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First edition : the first published state, with the regular cancel title-leaf dated 1914, advertisement leaves dated both Autumn and September 1913, and the preferred binding giving “Methven” in capitals at the foot. “Our summary can give no real conception of the greatness and the insight of this moving book; splendid in its style, masterly in the manner in which it paints for one the scent and savour and mystery of the sea; subtle and unerring in its grasp of the minds and motives of its creations ... It is strange that to a Polish exile and a seafaring man, to whom our language is a foreign tongue, it should be given to handle it with a touch so nearly approaching perfection” (Sheffield Daily Telegraph, 15th January 1914).
Crown 8vo (20cm). (viii),406,[ii],8 + (32)pp. Original green cloth, blocked and lettered in gilt; just a hint of rubbing; edges and prelims somewhat spotted, but otherwise a very good, bright and sound copy.

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London : T. Fisher Unwin, 1925. First edition. Four short stories previously unpublished in book form – “The Warrior’s Soul” – a moving tale of Napoleon’s retreat from Moscow, written during the Great War; “Prince Roman” – the Polish Patriot; “The Tale” – moral dilemmas at sea in the Great War, and “The Black Mate” – one of his earliest ventures into fiction. With a foreword by R. B. Cunninghame Graham (1852-1936). Published posthumously to the delight and acclaim of contemporary reviewers – “A substantial addition to Conrad’s best work” (The Scotsman); “one of the most remarkable books of short stories ever issued” (Daily Dispatch); “No unconsidered trifles ... They are of the stuff by which he will be judged” (Manchester Guardian).
Crown 8vo (21cm). (288)pp. Original holly cloth, ruled and lettered in gilt; some spotting of edges; one leaf with a slight production blemish; endpapers lightly tanned, but otherwise a very good, bright and sound copy in the original dust-jacket in a design by Edmondo Lucchesi (1871-1964) – the jacket just slightly creased, with a couple of tiny nicks, but also very good, clean and fresh.

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