Conrad, Joseph

Heart of Darkness

Norwalk, CT: The Heritage Press, 1969. First Edition Thus. Hardcover. "The journey described by Marlow in Heart of Darkness parallels Conrad's own trip to the Congo in 1890. Conrad once said that this story, together with his other African tale, An Outpost of Progress, was "all the spoil I brought out from the centre of Africa." The spoil turned out to be no less valuable in its way than ivory, and more enduring than Belgium's hold on its vast African territory." (from Introduction by Leo Gurko, pg. xi) The ultimately archetypal & haunting short novel by Joseph Conrad (1857-1924), the canonical Polish-British author. First published (in serial magazine form) during 1899, Conrad's narrative of Charles Marlow's literal & figurative descent down the Congo River & his confrontation with Kurtz, the ivory trader gone rogue, is embedded in our collective cultural consciousness. Famously, this iconic & unforgettable work was the basis for Francis Ford Coppola's 1979 film Apocalypse Now, in which Kurtz, as portrayed by Marlon Brando, became a renegade American colonel amidst the Vietnam War. Offered here is a gem among the myriad editions of Heart of Darkness that have been published since its first appearance- a variation of the Heritage Press edition of 1969, itself an alternate version of the Limited Editions Club production issued that year. With an introduction by Leo Gurko (1914-2008), the Polish-American biographer of Conrad & others; & with nine breathtaking illustrations by Robert Shore (1924-2014), the acclaimed & prolific American artist. Large hardcover in light-blue cloth with illustrated front cover in slipcase, first edition thus. With the Heritage Club's "Sandglass" newsletter-pamphlet describing this volume present, along with a previous seller's descriptive slip, both in very fine condition (the former with only a few spots at blank areas of front page, the latter mildly creased across surface), both between blank front paste-down & endpaper. From the collection of George V. Buehler (1933-2020), who was a prominent real estate developer & collector in Massachusetts & Arizona. We found & have retained, between blank rear endpaper & paste-down, several printed-out documents relating to Buehler's purchase of this item in October 2015, folded & in very fine condition. A collectible & desirable edition of Conrad's immortal classic, complete & with distinguished provenance- "...he cried out twice, a cry that was no more than a breath- 'The horror! The horror!' " (pg. 105) Book in very fine condition, substantially mint inside & out. Slipcase near-fine with mild rubbing, fading, scratching to all panels incl. very slight loss of surface paper esp. at spine & lower edges; small stickers with previous seller's price affixed to front & rear panels (all outer green-colored surfaces otherwise blank). Very Fine / (Slipcase) Near Fine. [Item #4856]

Price: $75.00