INSCRIBED BY JOHN GALSWORTHY TO HIS CLOSE FRIEND JOSEPH CONRAD

(CONRAD, JOSEPH) GALSWORTHY, John. The Island Pharisees. London: William Heinemann, 1904. Octavo, original green cloth. $4800.

First edition of the first book Galsworthy published under his own name, inscribed by him in the year of publication by the Nobel-winning writer to his close friend Joseph Conrad, "Jan. 29, 1904. Joseph Conrad from John Galsworthy."

The meeting in 1893 aboard the passenger ship Torrens of English lawyer John Galsworthy and Polish seaman Józef Teodor Konrad Korzeniowski was a turning point for both men. The seaman changed his name to Joseph Conrad and began writing, just as the lawyer abandoned the law for literature (one of Galsworthy's first works—"The Doldrums"—features a character clearly based on Conrad). It was also the beginning of an enduring friendship, one of both personal and literary support and encouragement on both parts. Galsworthy initially wrote under the name of "John Sinjohn"; Island Pharisees is the first book published by him under his own name, probably due in part to the recent death of his father. That same year Conrad dedicated his masterpiece Nostromo to Galsworthy, just as Galsworthy had dedicated his first novel Jocelyn to Conrad six years earlier (and would later dedicate In Chancery [1920], the second of the three Forsyte novels, to Conrad). Second issue (as usual), with Dolf (rather than Wolf) Wyllarde on page ii. Schwartz, 1100 Obscure Points, 19. With the bookplates of W.T. H. Howe and Edith Barbara Tranter. Howe was president of the American Book Company in Cincinnati and a noted book collector; Tranter was his secretary (and subsequent administrator of his estate) who also amassed a significant book collection which was sold at auction in 1952.

Interior generally clean with scattered minor foxing, original cloth with mild rubbing and soiling. An extremely good copy with outstanding provenance.