Conrad, Joseph

8vo, first edition, presentation copy affectionately inscribed by the author to his agent on front free endpaper  ("Signed for JB Pinker | with love | by Joseph Conrad"), title in red and black, original green vertically ribbed cloth, upper cover stamped in black, spine in gilt, Cagle's second "b" binding with "Freya of the Secret Isles" corrected to "Freya of the Seven Isles" on upper cover by over-stamping "Seven",  lower hinge starting otherwise a fine copy

Cagle A16a(1)b

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A fine presentation copy of the collection containing the first book appearance of "The Secret Sharer", warmly inscribed to the author's long-suffering and long-supportive agent J.B. Pinker (see lot 24).

The inscription, though undated, probably dates from sometime around publication in October 1912, a few months after relations had been finally restored between the two men after a two-year estrangement. Pinker's patience had finally snapped as the author's much-delayed writing of Under Western Eyes reached its conclusion towards the end of 1909. With Conrad then owing him £2,700 he asked Pinker for a new agreement to allow him to break off to write for The English Review: a blazing row ensued, with relations only restored in the spring of 1912. Two of the three stories collected here (they were all published previously in magazines) were written during Conrad's period of convalescence from the breakdown he suffered after completing Under Western Eyes and his breach with Pinker. The third, the richly enigmatic "The Secret Sharer", was written during the period before, and is Conrad's most famous and most anthologised short story.