THE MIRROR OF THE SEA. Memories and Impressions

1906. London: Methuen & Co., (1906). 40 pp ads dated August 1906. Original green cloth decorated in gilt.

First Edition (consisting of 1,511 copies) of Conrad's first volume of nonfiction, a rambling discourse about life on the sea. Though originally planned as a collection of sketches, during preparation for publication Conrad converted it into a continuous book. As he wrote to his agent: "My idea is a sort of reminiscent discourse running on like this: I. II. III. IV. etc etc XX. XXI. and so on, with no titles or blank or half blank pages between; something, in short, like poor Gissing's Ryecroft papers; and only the headings at the top of pages being changed according to the matter created." ... Conrad's method, which was mainly followed, was exceptionally shrewd as a way of getting around the unmarketability of short pieces or even short stories. A continuous book, even his, stood some chance of sales" [Karl]. This was the first of the five Conrad titles that Methuen bound in this coral-and-shell binding (two green and three red). This copy has August ads, which is the primary state (though the book was not actually published until October, and though some copies have July ads). The fore-edge is untrimmed, which again is the primary state (some copies, supposedly those headed for libraries, were issued trimmed). Condition is near-fine (a couple of faint discolorations on the spine); there is scarcely any actual wear at all, and there is none of the usual foxing on the leaves within. Supino A11.1.0; Cagle A11a, binding a; Keating 67 ("The book is scarce in untrimmed state, by far the greater part of the edition having been issued with trimmed edges").