YOUTH: A NARRATIVE, AND TWO OTHER STORIES (First edition - third impression)

First edition, third impression, published in 1909, MCMIX at the bottom of the title page, and with the publisher's catalogue dated 9/09 at the back of the book. The first impression of this collection of three novellas by Joseph Conrad, which includes the first publication in full of "Heart of Darkness", appearing here alongside "Youth: A Narrative" and "The End of the Tether", was published in November 1902, with 3,150 copies were printed (Wise 10 - Thomas J. Wise - A Bibliography of the Writings of Joseph Conrad (1895-1921). A scond impression appeared in 1903, and a third impression (this copy) not until 1909 (number of copies printed unknown). Surprisingly, this third impression seems less common now than either the first or second. ***Very good in light green cloth-covered boards with gilt titles and black floral decoration to the spine, and black titles and floral decoration to the front board. The gilt is still quite bright. The boards are quite clean, with some marks from age and handling over the last 116 years, mainly on the front board. The spine is slightly browned and faded, but the boards are not faded, and retain the original green colour. The head and tail of the spine are slightly rubbed and creased as usual, but there are no tears to the fragile cloth. There is slight rubbing to the cloth at the corners, but these remain sharp. The top edge of the page block is darkened. The binding is nice and straight, without any reading lean. Internally, the book is also very good, with neat ownership details in ink and some bookseller marks in pencil at the top of the front free endpaper. Some light offsetting to the endpapers, but no splitting to the endpapers, which is often the case with this book, and there is no splitting to the actual binding either which remains firm. Pages clean without any marks or annotations. No creases or tears. No dustwrapper as per usual. ***375 pages plus the 32pp publisher's catalogue at the back of the book dated 10/02 on the last printed page (first state). 196mm x 138mm. ***'"Youth, a Narrative; and Two Other Stories" is a collection of three works of short fiction, originally serialized in Blackwood’s Magazine. The volume was published in 1902 by William Blackwood and Sons. The collection includes “Heart of Darkness”, considered one of the finest examples of modern fiction. The three stories that appear in "Youth, a Narrative" were serialized in Blackwood’s Magazine previous to their collection. The month and date of their first serialization were as follows: “Youth” (September 1898), “Heart of Darkness” (February - April 1899), and “The End of the Tether” (July - September 1902). After the success of the short story “Youth” in 1898, publisher William Blackwood offered to include the story in a collection if Conrad could publish two more works. Conrad consented and these stories were the material for this, his second volume of short fiction after "Tales of Unrest" (1898).' (Wiki) ***A third impression of the true first edition, which includes the first book publication of Joseph Conrad's most famous novella "Heart of Darkness" - in the original publisher's green cloth-covered gilt-decorated boards, in very good original condition for a book now 116 years old at the time of listing. An attractive copy of this third impression from 1909, the last to be produced in this original format, and uncommon now. ***For all our books, postage is charged at cost, allowing for packaging: any shipping rates indicated on ABE are an average only: we will reduce the P & P charge where appropriate - please contact us for postal rates for heavier books and sets etc.…