THE INHERITORS. An Extravagant Story

1901. New York: McClure, Phillips & Co., 1901. Original tan cloth pictorially decorated in black, orange and gilt.

First Edition of the first collaboration between Conrad and Hueffer -- a tale that combines science fiction with political satire, somewhat in the same vein as had recently been popularized by H. G. Wells. This is regarded as Conrad's only science fiction tale -- though the work is largely Hueffer's. The "I" narrator is Etchingham Granger, a writer of impeccable pedigree whose fortunes are none too good and who is forced to take on several disagreeable commercial assignments. Early on, he meets an extremely attractive young lady who is a "Fourth Dimensionist." This tribe of "new people" -- there is a dystopian pattern here -- lacks feelings and normal or human responses. They, and she, are dedicated to becoming the inheritors of the earth because of their superiority in intellect, control and deception. In particular, they plan to undermine public confidence in its institutions, which turns out to be fairly easy given the nature of the men who govern. The political satire lies here: everyone has a price and everyone is self-serving regardless of the seriousness of the issues. There is no "public policy" among public men. [Karl] For copyright reasons the American edition was published first; the English edition was then produced from the American plates, and was published about five weeks later. This is the usual first published state, with the cancel dedication leaf (there exist about six known copies with the uncorrected error "To Boys and Christina"). This copy has the binding in the preferred state, with the front cover sky in gilt rather than uncolored (priority uncertain, but the few pre-publication copies have this gilt sky). The volume is in near-fine condition, with very little soil or wear; the spine atypically is not darkened. Supino A6.2.0, binding state A (this copy, with his notation on the front endpaper); Cagle A6a.2, binding a. Housed in a (moderately scuffed) morocco-backed slipcase with inner chemise. Provenance: bookplates of (1) the literary editor Silas Orrin Howes, (2) E.E. Taylor, (3) Sherman Flint, and (4) the Conrad bibliographer David J. Supino.