Chance. A Tale in Two Parts.

Spurious first edition, actually the fourth edition with stub-mounted cancel title page, signed by the author "J. Conrad 1923" on the front free endpaper. This book has a highly complicated publishing history due to a strike at the binders which delayed publication from autumn 1913 until spring 1914. The publishers chose to cancel the 1913 title pages with replacements dated 1914. Only a very small number of copies (51 according to Methuen's files) with the earlier title pages survived. The matter would have remained fairly straightforward were it not for Conradians avid for copies dated 1913. To service this demand Methuen recalled the fourth impression and inserted new 1913 title pages into them. Copies of this issue are distinguishable by the cancel titles being stub mounted and by the spacing of the line of type on the title page. Octavo. Original green cloth, titles and decoration to spine gilt. With the front panel from the rare dust jacket loosely inserted. Extremities lightly rubbed, a good, tight copy with bright gilt on spine.…