Heart of Darkness by Conrad, Joseph; Gurko, Leo (Introduction); Shore, Robert (Illustrator) - 1969

New York: The Limited Editions Club, 1969. Limited Edition. Hardcover. Fine/near fine. Shore, Robert. Number 351 of 1500, fine in a fine slipcase, quarto size, 117 p., signed by Robert Shore. First published in 1902, this story, written at the height of the British empire, reflects the physical and psychological shock Conrad himself experienced in 1890 when he worked briefly in the Belgian Congo. The experience left him disillusioned, questioning what it meant to be civilized in the age of colonialism (N. B., info from Britannica website). The basis for the 1979 film "Apocalypse Now". ___DESCRIPTION: Bound in black rag paper sides with black-and-white "resist" drawing by the artist, the spine is of ivory-stained British sheep vellum with gilt lettering, the ten illustrations were made in acrylic pigments on plywood - of these, eight are full-page and two are double spread, all in full colour; quarto size (11" by 7.25"), pagination: [2 blank], [xv], 117, colophon, [2 blank]; limited edition, number 351 of 1500, signed by the artist Robert Shore, Monthly Newsletter and Announcement laid in; original glassine wrapper; housed in a black paper slipcase with gilt lettering on the spine. ___CONDITION: Volume is in fine condition with bright boards and spine, square corners, clean pages, and tight binding; Monthly Letter fine, clean and with only original fold, Announcement near fine, glassine wrapper near fine with some minor chips to the edges and spine, some very slight sunning to the spine; slipcase is in fine condition, strong and sturdy and free of any wear or sunning. Overall a stunning example of this version of a classic story, crisp and clean, and appears never to have been read. ___CITATION: LEC Bibliography no. 413. ___POSTAGE: International customers, please note that additional postage may apply as the standard does not always cover costs; please inquire for details. ___Swan's Fine Books is pleased to be a member of the ABAA, ILAB, and IOBA and we stand behind every book we sell. Please contact us with any questions you may have, we are here to help.