Conrad, Joseph and Ford Madox Hueffer

8vo, UK copyright copy of the first American edition, presentation copy inscribed by Hueffer [later Ford] to his wife Elsie, the inscription signed by both Conrad and Hueffer (To Elsie | the collaborator | Jph Conrad. | & the other F.M.H."), second (regular) issue with cancelled dedication leaf with corrected text ("To Borys & Christina"), original pictorial beige smooth cloth, upper cover with illustration depicting a man and a woman with view of Canterbury in the background, sky in gilt (Cagle's earlier binding), spine lettered in black, a few small tears to inner margin, occasional spotting, spine darkened, wear to edges, covers slightly soiled

Elsie Hueffer, presentation inscription; Christie's South Kensington ("The Property of Ford Madox and Elsie Hueffer by direct descent"), 7 June 2005, lot 115

cf Cagle A6b(a); Harvey A9a

Condition is described in the main body of the cataloguing, when 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."

One of only a handful of copies of the UK copyright edition, this one  inscribed by the two author collaborators to Ford Madox Ford's wife Elsie.

The first edition of The Inheritors was published by McClure in New York on 1st June 1901. A few copies were issued with a misprinted dedication leaf (see previous lot), soon corrected for the second issue. According to T.J. Wise, as recorded by Harvey in his own bibliography of Ford Madox Ford's works, "a few copies of this edition (the publisher thinks there were seven or eight) were forwarded to London, and issued for copyright purposes by William Heinemann. These have the words 'London / William Heinemann' added at the foot of the title-page by means of an ordinary rubberstamp. An example is in the British Museum..." (quoted by Harvey, p.9). This account is backed up by Conrad's inscription in one of these copies, given to Richard Curle in 1915, and subsequently sold by the American Art Association on 28 April 1927 (lot 38).

The double presentation inscription commemorates a remarkable literary collaboration. Ford and Conrad had first met at the former's cottage in Limpsfield in September 1898 (the cottage was rented from Edward Garnett). Conrad was 41 and Ford 24, and the two shared the common goal of refashioning the English novel according to the principles set down by their literary heroes such as Turgenev, Flaubert and Maupassant. Within a month they had agreed to collaborate, and The Inheritors was the first of their joint works, to be followed by Romance and The Nature of a Crime. Ford wrote to Edward Garnett after his friend's death: "My affection for Conrad was so great and remained so unchanged that I have never been able really to believe in his death..." (quoted by Alan Judd, Ford Madox Ford, p.64).