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First English Edition, first impression. Hard cover, 12mo, in red linen wove cloth, the spine with titles and vignette decoration of coral and shells block in gold. Copyright statement : "First published in 1915." First issue, with comma after Essex Street on t.p. Plain cream wove endpapers, edges trimmed, top edge stained. Has list of 16 works by Conrad, and two with Hueffer,opposite title page.**COLLATION: [i-vi], Author's Note vii-viii, 1,[2], 3- 415pp [1 imprint of Morrison & Gibb, Edinburgh], 4pp. unpaginated catalogue: "Methuen's Popular Novels," dated Autumn 1915, plus: "A Selection of Books Published by Methuen & Co. Ltd. etc." 31pp. paginated, [1].**CONDITION: Very Good Minus. Lacking dust jacket. Some soiling to covers, moderately toned pages. The spine shows no appreciable wear, however. Hinges each have an inch or so crack but the volume is holding firmly. Remains of a sticker to rear pastedown. Still, a rare edition, which because of its popularity, sold out on the date of publication, according to D. Supino, N p. 262. Now in mylar. **Written in 1914, before the start of World War One, when this volume was eventually released in Britain on September 24, 1915, having been postponed because of the hostilities, the Author included a "Note" which is found here (and does not appear in the earlier American First Edition published six months prior.)**This novel, set in the Dutch port of Surabaya on Java, tells the story of Axel Heyst, an otherwise disaffected Swede, who eventually goes into business with a Capt. Morrison upon doing the generous yet impecunious man a small favor. They found the Tropical Belt Coal Company. Heyst remains a hermit on the island once the mine has failed, but he is urged into action by the mistreatment of Lena, a young woman who plays in a dinner orchestra at the unsavory Schomberg's hotel. A hidden treasure, and the greed it awakes in the motives of those around them, leads to unforeseen consequences for the two lovers.REFS: Lohf and Sheehy 174. Keating 115 edition only. D. Supino A.19.7.0. pp. 259-262.
Ref: CONRD 9222
$265.00