ROMANCE. A Novel

1904. Illustrated by Charles R. Macauley. New York: McClure, Phillips & Co., 1904. 8 pp undated ads. Original blue cloth decorated in grey.

First American (and first illustrated) Edition, first impression, first state (i.e. with copyright date 1904) -- of the second collaboration between Conrad and Hueffer (after THE INHERITORS). As Cagle and (much more recently) Supino have explained, this is a curious example of a later copyright date having precedence over an earlier copyright date. The original plan was for this American edition to come out in late 1903, and (incomplete but) so-dated copies were filed at the Library of Congress on October 26th. Due to several factors, publication was not ready -- so the decision was made to delay publication until the spring of 1904, and the printer was notified to change the date. Which he did -- but he also changed the copyright to 1904 as well, and the first copies went out with that erroneous date on the title verso (the first state). "This error was corrected and the 1903 copyright restored before the second printing" [Cagle] -- making the corrected 1903-copyright copies the second state of the first impression. (Second and third impressions were issued in 1904, so identified on the title verso.) This copy is in just-about-fine condition, with just a trace of wear at some binding tips. Supino A9.6.0 and Plate 9 (this copy); Cagle A9b. Provenance: discreet bookplate of the Conrad bibliographer David J. Supino.