Nostromo

by Conrad, Joseph

Joseph Conrad’s Nostromo: A Tale of the Seaboard is often regarded as author’s most ambitious work. The novel is set in the mining town of Sulaco, a port in the fictitious South American republic of Costaguana. The region has history of tyranny, revolution, and war, but more recently, the area has enjoyed newfound stability. Charles "don Carlos" Gould aims to promote this time of peace and prosperity by reopening his family’s silver mine in order to contribute to the local economy and, of course, personally profit. But as the political climate intensifies once again, Gould finds that he must pay off various armed revolutionaries in addition to government officials, bandits, and the church in order to stay in business. In this political commentary on imperialism, no character wins; all are dealt ironic fates.

Originally published serially in two volumes of T.P.'s Weekly, Nostromo is ranked 47th on Modern Library’s “100 Best” English-language novels of the 20th century. In 1991, a film adaptation of Nostromo, starring Marlon Brando, among others, was to be produced by Steven Spielberg and directed by David Lean, but Lean died a few weeks before filming began. In 1996, a television adaptation of the novel was produced and aired on the BBC, Radiotelevisione Italiana, Televisión Española, and WGBH Boston.

Nostromo has often been referenced in other works. Much of the story in Andrew M. Greeley's Virgin and Martyr (1985) is set in the fictional country of Costaguana — and many of the other place names in the work are borrowed from Nostromo as well. Perhaps more familiar: In Ridley Scott's 1979 science-fiction horror film, Alien, the spacecraft is named the Nostromo and in James Cameron's 1986 sequel, Aliens, the Marine transport vessel is named Sulaco.

First Edition Identification

Harper & Brothers first published Nostromo in London in 1904. Bound in blue cloth, the first edition contains a point of issue on p. 187: the page is numbered as 871. The novel was originally published in a print run of just 2,000 copies in which 1904 (the year of publication) appears on the title page with no additional printings listed.

Other Collectible or Notable Editions

Harper & Brothers also published the first US edition of Nostromo in New York in 1904. This edition is bound in dark green with orange and black design and contains a point of issue on p. 201: "Europe" misspelled "Eruope."

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Nostromo: A Tale of the Seaboard
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Nostromo: A Tale of the Seaboard

by Conrad, Joseph

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Used - About Fine
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First Edition
Published
1904
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Portland, Oregon, USA
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London: Harper & Brothers, 1904. First Edition. About Fine. First British edition, first printing; first state with page 187 numbered as 871 and final page correctly numbered. Bound in publisher's dark blue cloth stamped in light blue, with titles in gilt on the spine. About Fine with slight dulling to spine, slight rippling to cloth at fore edge… Read more about this item
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Nostromo: A Tale of the Seaboard
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Nostromo: A Tale of the Seaboard

by Conrad, Joseph

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Used - Very Good
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First Edition
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1904
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Portland, Oregon, USA
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London: Harper & Brothers, 1904. First Edition. Very Good. 480pp. First British edition, first printing; first state with page 187 numbered as 871 and final page correctly numbered. Bound in publisher's dark blue cloth stamped in light blue, with titles in gilt on the spine. Very Good or better, with rubbing to cloth at extremities, several small spots… Read more about this item
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Nostromo: A Tale of the Seaboard.

Nostromo: A Tale of the Seaboard.

by Conrad, Joseph

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1904
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Palm Beach, Florida, USA
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London: Harper & Brothers, 1904. First edition of what many consider to be Conrad's masterpiece, one of 2000 examples. Octavo, original blue cloth stamped in gilt. An excellent near fine example with light shelfwear, with the spine gilt nice and bright. A very sharp example. A gripping tale of capitalist exploitation and rebellion, set in the fictional South American… Read more about this item
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Nostromo: A tale of the seaboard
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Nostromo: A tale of the seaboard

by Conrad, Joseph

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Used - Very good with clipped d/j (in protective sleeve); blue clothbound boards and gilt titling on spine bright; pages tightly bound
Edition
Collected
Published
1958
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Hardback
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Maidenhead, Berkshire, GBR
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London: J. M. Dent & Sons, 1958. Collected. hardback. Very good with clipped d/j (in protective sleeve); blue clothbound boards and gilt titling on spine bright; pages tightly bound (slight backward lean) and unmarked;. 12mo (190 x 130 / 7_"" x 5""). 1904 novel set in the fictitious South American republic of ""Costaguana"". It was originally published serially… Read more about this item
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NOSTROMO

NOSTROMO

by Conrad, Joseph

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First American Edition
Published
1904
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Hard Cover
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New York: Harper & Brothers, 1904. First American Edition. Hard Cover. Near Fine. Octavo. First issue with "Eruope" on p. 201, p. 480 numbered correctly, date on title page. Bound in original green cloth with gilt lettering spine and front cover. Near fine copy with owner inscription title page. 630 pp.
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Nostromo : A Tale of the Seaboard

Nostromo : A Tale of the Seaboard

by Conrad, Joseph

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Used - Good+
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First Printing
Published
1904
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Decorative Cloth
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Green Valley, Arizona, USA
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Harper & Brothers, 1904. First Printing. Decorative Cloth. Good+/No Jacket. 631pp. This copy has the misspelling of "Europe" (as Eruope) on p. 201. Bottom edge of one leaf has a tiny tear. Text block edges are lightly soiled. Covers are lightly rubbed and lightly soiled. Top third of spine has been repaired with brown… Read more about this item
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Nostromo : a tale of the seaboard / by Joseph Conrad

Nostromo : a tale of the seaboard / by Joseph Conrad

by Conrad, Joseph (1857-1924)

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First Edition, 2nd impression
Published
1905
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Hardcover
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Galway, IRL
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London: Harper and Brothers, 1905. First Edition, 2nd impression. Hardcover. Very good copy in the original title-blocked cloth. Slight suggestion only of dust-dulling to the spine bands and panel edges. Rear hinge worn. Remains particularly well-preserved overall; tight, bright, clean and strong. Physical description; xxvi, 480 pages ; 18 cm. Subjects; Revolutions ; Fiction. Sailors ; Fiction. English fiction… Read more about this item
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Nostromo
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Nostromo

by Joseph Conrad

Condition
Used - Near Fine Condition
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No Dust Jacket
Edition
First Edition
Published
1961
Binding
Hardcover (in Slipcase)
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Warwick, New York, USA
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Limited Editions Club, New York, 1961. First Edition. Hardcover (in Slipcase). Near Fine Condition/No Dust Jacket. Illustrator: Lima de Freitas. JOSEPH CONRAD. Nostromo, New York: Limited Editions Club, 1961. Quarto, No. 1,164 of an edition of 1,500, pp. xxiii, 376, 1 (limitation page), turquoise cloth boards with a silver-stamped town on front, quarter-bound in brown burlap… Read more about this item
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Nostromo: A Tale of the Seaboard
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Nostromo: A Tale of the Seaboard

by Joseph Conrad

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Published
1904
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Hardcover
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Berkeley, California, USA
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Harper & Brothers, 1904. Hardcover. Good/No jacket. First American edition. Water damage to the bottom edge of the text bock. As-Is.
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NOSTROMO

NOSTROMO

by Conrad, Joseph

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Used - Good with no dust jacket
Edition
First American Edition
Published
1904
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Hardcover
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Palmyra, New York, USA
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Harper & Brothers. Good with no dust jacket. 1904. First American Edition. Hardcover. E--First US edition by Harper & Brothers. Dark green covers worn, rubbed, with some staining. The embossing of the cover design remains, but the black and orange color has rubbed off. Point of issue on pg 201, the misspelling of “Europe” as “Eruope” is… Read more about this item
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NOSTROMO

NOSTROMO

by Joseph Conrad

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Used - Very Good+ in Very Good- dust jacket
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First Modern Library Edition; First Printing
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Hardcover
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Livonia, Michigan, USA
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The Modern Library. Very Good+ in Very Good- dust jacket. 0. First Modern Library Edition; First Printing. Hardcover. ****Spring Sale! The current price reflects a 20% discount off the regular price, while the item lasts. Sale ends April 2, 2024*****; Grey cloth cover has modest wear to corners and spine caps and slight toning but clean and… Read more about this item
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Nostromo: A Tale of the Seaboard

Nostromo: A Tale of the Seaboard

by Conrad, Joseph

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First edition, later issue
Published
1904
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Hardcover
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Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
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New York: Harper & Brothers Publishers, 1904. First edition, later issue. Hardcover. 630pp. Duodecimo [19 cm] Green cloth covered boards with gilt stamped titles on the spine and front cover, and an orange and black ink stamped floral and shovel design on the front cover. Very good. The edges of the spine and covers are gently bumped and rubbed.… Read more about this item
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NOSTROMO: A Tale of the Seaboard
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NOSTROMO: A Tale of the Seaboard

by JOSEPH CONRAD (INTRO BY RICHARD HOLMES)

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Used - Near Fine
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1st Ediition Thus
Published
1984
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Hardcover
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Brighton, East Sussex, GBR
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LONDON: THE FOLIO SOCIETY, 1984 Brick Moire silk boards with silver and black blocked titles and decoration, 250 x 160 mm approx. With slip case. Illustrated end papers, 384 pp Two tone frontis + 14 other such lithographic illustrations by Paul Hogarth all as called for. First published by the Folio Society in 1984 the copy offered is of… Read more about this item
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Nostromo

Nostromo

by Conrad, Joseph

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Used - Very Good
Published
1961
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Hardcover
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Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
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Limited Editions Club. Very Good. 1961. Hardcover. No. 1048 of limited edition of 1500, printed for members of the Limited Editions Club, and signed by illustrator Lima de Freitas. Binding solid. Pages unmarked and barely ged. Cloth cover with burlap spine and pastedown spine title -- all with little or no wear. Missing slipcase. No dustjacket … Read more about this item
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Nostromo: A Tale of the Seaboard

Nostromo: A Tale of the Seaboard

by Joseph Conrad

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Used - Good
Published
1970
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Hardcover
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Leigh-On-Sea, Essex, GBR
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London: Heron, 1970. Hardcover. Good. Graham Byfield. Pleasant Heron edition of Conrad's great novel. With b/w illustrations by Graham Byfield. Some cracking to outer joints. mild rubbing to edges. Contents clean and binding sound. Fair/Good.
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Nostromo

Nostromo

by Conrad, Joseph

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Used - Good
Published
1960
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Mass Market Paperback
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Seattle, Washington, USA
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Dell, 1960. Mass Market Paperback. Good. Previous owner's name inside and a few notes on title page and rear endpapers; otherwise clean and unmarked. Light wear and creases to cover. 480 pages.
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Nostromo: A Tale of the Seaboard

Nostromo: A Tale of the Seaboard

by Joseph Conrad

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Used - Good
Published
1904
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Washington, District of Columbia, USA
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London: Harper & Brothers, 1904. Good. London: Harper & Brothers, 1904. First Edition, First State with p. 187 misprinted 871. Thick octavo; publisher's blue cloth, upper cover lettered in pale blue, gilt-lettered spine; [8],480pp. Cloth significantly worn along extremities with rather messy exposure at spine ends and bottom margin of rear cover, textblock a bit toned and shaken… Read more about this item
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Nostromo

by Joseph Conrad

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Morrinsville, NZL
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Penguin, Uk, 1963, paperback. Book Condition: good. Moderate reading wear. Clean used copy..
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NOSTROMO: A TALE OF THE SEABOARD

NOSTROMO: A TALE OF THE SEABOARD

by Joseph Conrad

Condition
Used
Edition
First Edition Thus; First Printing
Published
1961
Binding
Hardcover
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Pomona, New York, USA
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New York: Heritage Press. 1961. First Edition Thus; First Printing. Hardcover. Very Good+ in a Very Good+ slipcase. Small open tears on slipcase bottom corner. Light sunning on slipcase edges. .
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Nostromo

Nostromo

by Joseph Conrad

Condition
Used - Good
Published
1947
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Hardcover
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Goring-by-Sea, West Sussex, GBR
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J.M. Dent and Sons Ltd, 1947. Hardcover. Good. 1947. Collected Edition. 572 pages. No dust jacket. Blue cloth with gilt lettering. Prize plate stuck to front pastedown. Joseph Conrad facsimile signature to rear pastedown. Pages clear with some tanning and foxing, particularly to textblock edges and endpapers. Some page edges folded and creased. Binding remains firm. Boards have… Read more about this item
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