CONRAD (JOSEPH) The Nigger of the Narcissus A Tale of the Sea, first English edition, AUTHOR'S PRESENTATION COPY, INSCRIBED TO HIS FRIEND AND FELLOW NOVELIST STEPHEN REYNOLDS, William Heinemann, 1898CONRAD (JOSEPH)The Nigger of the "Narcissus" A Tale of the Sea, first English edition, AUTHOR'S PRESENTATION COPY, INSCRIBED TO HIS FRIEND AND FELLOW NOVELIST STEPHEN REYNOLDS, ("To Stephen Reynolds, fisherman, architect and man of Great Faith (the faith that moves mountains) this copy of a be-praised and obscure work is affectionately presented in memory of the auspicious year of the First Book by his friend J. Conrad"), leaf of "Press Opinions" bound before half-title (replacing the second blank leaf), 4pp. of advertisements (S1-2) at end but without the 16pp. of publisher's announcements, some spotting to opening and final leaves (heaviest on endpapers), publisher's slate grey smooth cloth (Cagle's b binding with publisher's name at foot of spine in a uniform 3mm. height), upper cover stamped in gilt with the title within a life ring device, slightly rubbed at extremities, preserved in cloth solander box [Cagle A3c(b)], 8vo, William Heinemann, 1898PRESENTATION COPY INSCRIBED BY THE AUTHOR TO STEPHEN REYNOLDS, friend, fellow writer and explorer of the seas who, in the first decade of the century through introductions by Edward Garnett Reynolds, became close friends with Edward Thomas and Conrad. His first book was A Poor Man's House (1908), "an Orwellian picture of working-class life from the inside... Joseph Conrad called it 'a book for which one seems to have waited all the time'" (ODNB). His only novel, The Holy Mountain, appeared in 1909, and it seems probable that Conrad's warm presentation inscription was written to celebrate the publication of one of these works.Provenance: Stephen Reynolds, presentation inscription from the author; "My favorite book to my favorite person - P.L., 1940", ink inscription on half-title; Christie's New York, Roger Rechler Sale, 11 October 2002, lot 49; Sotheby's, The Joseph Conrad Collection From the Library of the Late Stanley J. Seeger, 15 July 2014, lot 211.