Conrad, Joseph and Ford Madox Hueffer

The Inheritors. New York: McClure, Phillips & Co., 1901, first edition, pre-publication state with misprint on dedication page ("To Boys & Christina"), [Cagle A6(a)1], some light browning, hinges split, adhesive residue and abrasions to front fixed endpaper, binding worn and soiled with tears to spine;

The Inheritors. New York: McClure, Phillips & Co., 1901, first edition, published state with misprint corrected on cancel dedication page ("To Borys & Christina"), apparently a publisher's file copy, remnants of label to lower cover ("...Please Return this Cook Promptly to the Manufacturing Dept..."), [Cagle A6(a)2], hinges split, bookplate of Ingle Barr;



both 8vo, title-pages printed in orange and black, original pictorial beige smooth cloth with illustration in red, black and gilt, spines lettered in black (2)

Condition is described in the main body of the cataloguing, where appropriate.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

The error in the dedication page was detected "after only a few copies had left the publisher's hands" (Cagle, p. 61). In Keating's A Conrad Memorial Library it is noted that the publisher informed Conrad that only four copies escaped with the original dedication leaf uncancelled. Cagle, however, located six copies: at the Beinecke, the Lilly Library, the University of Texas, the Library of Congress (the one surviving of the two deposit copies), and the private collection of Kenyon Law Starling. A few other copies have surfaced at auction since Cagle conducted his research: for example the copy sold in these rooms on 19 July 1994 and a copy in The Joseph Conrad Collection from the Library of the late Stanley J. Seeger, part I (10 July 2013, lot 34).