THE CHILDREN OF THE SEA. A Tale of the Forecastle

1897. New York: Dodd, Mead and Company, 1897. Original pictorial light blue-grey mottled cloth.

First Edition, first issue, of the tale subsequently published as THE NIGGER OF THE "NARCISSUS." Conrad wrote this story with the "Nigger" title, but consented to change the title for the American edition (which preceded the English); "Dodd, Mead thought the English title might denote a book about a black man that would not interest American readers." Nonetheless, the original title was restored for all subsequent editions, making this variant-titled edition one of the more sought-after of Conrad's works. Due to the publication date late in the season [November 30th], two sets of the first gathering were printed, one with an 1897 title-page date, and a second with an 1898 date, resulting in two issues. The second issue, with the exception of the date on the title-page, is identical to the first. [quotes from Supino] This copy is from the first issue, with an 1897 title page. It is in very good-plus condition (some cracking of the endpapers, as is often the case; external wear is limited to just a couple of tips). This is an increasingly-difficult book to find in collectible condition. Supino A3.1.0 and Plate 4 (this copy); Cagle A3b. Provenance: discreet bookplate of the Conrad bibliographer David J. Supino.