Conrad, Joseph

in blue ink, with autograph corrections and postscripts (11 lines in total) to both letters, on Conrad's trip to the USA, the first announcing that "I may come over to your side at the beginning of May on the invitation of F.N. Doubleday ... and I have been discussing the possibility of delivering some semi-private lectures ... Your opinion, however, that a visit from me would produce a good effect on the sales of my books, had enough weight with me to induce me to consider the above plan", and expanding on his financial situation ("...Material success, as you know, came to me late in life..."), the second letter making more detailed arrangements for his trip to America and looking forward in particular to visiting Adams, also commenting that "I am engaged upon of [sic] writing a preface to Stephen Crane's biography", 4 pages, 4to, headed stationery of Oswalds, Bishopsbourne, Kent, 15 December 1922 and 15 March 1923, remains of adhesive tape on versos

Collected Letters, VII, pp.619-20, VIII, p.52 (portion only)

Condition is described in the main body of the catalogue, 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."

Elbridge L. Adams (1866-1934) was a lawyer who practised in New York as well as a keen bibliophile who later went on to establish a private press. He met Conrad in England in 1916, at which time the two men struck up a correspondence. Adams wrote a brief character sketch 'Joseph Conrad - the Man' in Outlook (April 1918), and when Conrad visited America in May 1923 he spent two days at Adams's home in the Massachusetts countryside.