THE RESCUE. A Romance of the Shallows

1920. London & Toronto: J.M. Dent & Sons, 1920. Original green cloth stamped in gilt, with dust jacket.

First English Trade Edition (issued after the American edition and also after a 40-copy private issue of the English galley proofs). Begun in 1896, and in effect completing the trilogy begun with ALMAYER'S FOLLY and AN OUTCAST OF THE ISLANDS, "THE RESCUE was Conrad's albatross, the book which hung about his neck from the beginning of his writing career almost until the end of his life" [Cagle]. This copy is in the standard (primary) binding: the spine lettering is in gilt, and the front cover publisher's device and border are in blind. (There is a secondary binding with black lettering and border, and with no front cover device.) This volume is in fine, bright condition (endpaper signature dated August 9, 1920, two months after publication); the pictorial jacket, which unlike that of THE ROVER does not often turn up in presentable condition, is near-fine -- with very little edge-wear (remarkable since the jacket stands a bit taller than the volume). Supino A22.7.0, binding A; Cagle A49b(2), binding "a