Conrad, Joseph and Ford Maddox Hueffer

8vo, first edition, presentation copy inscribed by Ford Maddox Hueffer and signed by both authors to Hueffer's mother-in-law during the month of publication ("Mrs William Martindale | Affectionately from | Joseph Conrad. | + | Ford Madox Hueffer. | October 1903") on front free endpaper, 8pp. publisher's catalogue at end, original blue smooth cloth lettered in gilt on spine and in white on upper cover, some spotting, binding rubbed at extremities, hinges splitting

Mrs William Martindale, presentation inscription; Christie's South Kensington ("The Property of Ford Madox and Elsie Hueffer by direct descent"), 7 June 2005, lot 116

Cagle A9a(1)

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

A rare double presentation copy of Conrad's successful collaboration with Ford Madox Hueffer [Ford]. The adventure novel is set in the Caribbean in the 1820s and is frequently seen as an example of boys' literature. Conrad stated: "In this book I have done my share of writing. Most of the characters... were introduced by Hueffer and developed then in my own way with, of course, his consent and collaboration. The last part is, like the first, the work of Hueffer, except a few portions written by me. Part Second is actually joint work. Parts 3 and 4 are my writing, with here and there a sentence by Hueffer." (see Wise, p. 27)

Hueffer proposed to Elsie Martindale on her sixteenth birthday (when he was nineteen). As Max Saunders notes in the Oxford DNB, "In 1894 Ford eloped with his school girlfriend Elsie Martindale (1877–1949), the daughter of Dr William Martindale (1840–1902), an eminent analytical chemist, who opposed her marrying someone with such unreliable financial prospects. Ford and Elsie married in Gloucester on 17 May 1894."

The Martindales would eventually be reconciled with the Hueffers and in January 1901 William Martindale bought the couple "The Bungalow" in Winchelsea. In February 1902, however, Martindale committed suicide with cyanide. There has been some suggestion that Ford had an affair with his sister-in-law around this time. The final two words of William Martindale's suicide note ("Thank Ford") may refer to this. Nevertheless, Ford seems to have been on sufficiently good terms with his mother-in-law to present her with this inscribed volume during the month of its publication.