THE SECRET AGENT. Drama in Four Acts. Sixty copies printed, this one inscribed and signed by Joseph Conrad.
Canterbury, UK: Printed for the Author by H.J. Goulden, Ltd., 1921. First Edition. Paper Wrappers (pb). Quarto (4to). Very good condition. Item #020518
Three leaves, paginated i-iii, followed by 69 pages of text. Original thin paper printed wrappers, bright and clean except slightly browned at the top edge, and slightly worn, except for three large clean tears on the rear wrapper. Top edge trimmed; other edges uncut. Signed and inscribed by the author on the front cover "For Mr. J.A. Spoor [signed] Joseph Conrad." Engraved bookplate of industrialist, book collector and former trustee of the Newberry Library John A. Spoor (1851-1926) affixed neatly to the inside of the front wrapper, with a visible outline on the front wrapper, not affecting the inscription. Additionally, there is a 1pg typed letter signed by Conrad, with manuscript additions, to Mr. Wise who requested a copy of this publication from Conrad for Mr. Spoor. What Conrad states as being the number of copies printed (52) differs by eight from what the editors of the Collected Letters of Joseph Conrad state (60). The closing sentence is handwritten "My wife sends her kind regards Believe me yours [signed] J. Conrad." Preserved in a gilt-titled navy Morocco solander by Riviere. First edition, first printing.
Price: $7,500.00