Conrad, Joseph

8vo, first edition, unique untrimmed copy, later white cloth-backed blue cloth boards lettered in gilt on spine

Paul Lemperly, his sale at Parke-Bernet Galleries, 4-5 January 1940, lot 201

cf Cagle A7a(1)

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."

A typewritten note, signed by the collector Paul Lemperly, is tipped-in on the front free endpaper: 'This work was issued by the publishers in plain green cloth with smooth edges. I secured from them this copy of the first edition, in the sheets, entirely untrimmed. The binding was done at the Lippincott Press, through the courtesy of my friend, E.S. Holloway, and under his supervision. In such uncut state, the book is possibly unique. January, 1903.'

The size of the leaves, in this copy, measure 200 by 135mm. Leaves in the copies bound for Blackwood and Sons measure 189 by 125mm.

Noel Lawson Lewis, writing in the auction catalogue for Lemperly's collection, noted of Paul Lemperly (1858-1939) that '...surely the chronicle of book-collecting in America cannot properly be written without the personal history of his superlative achievements...'