"Always read something that will make you look good if you die in the middle of it."
— P.J. O'Rourke
Henry Rider Haggard | First Editions
1856 - 1925
Sir Henry Rider Haggard, KBE (22 June 1856 – 14 May 1925), known as H. Rider Haggard, was an English writer of Victorian adventure novels set in exotic locations, predominantly Africa; he is considered a pioneer of the Lost World literary genre. In fact, the hugely popular King Solomon's Mines is sometimes considered the first of the Lost World genre. His novel She is generally seen to be one of the classics of imaginative literature, and with 83 million copies sold by 1965, it is one of the best-selling books of all time.
His novels portray many of the stereotypes associated with colonialism, yet they are unusual for the degree of sympathy with which the native populations are portrayed. Africans often play heroic roles in the novels, although the protagonists are typically European. Notable examples are the heroic Zulu warrior Umslopogaas and Ignosi, the rightful king of Kukuanaland, in King Solomon's Mines.
See below our stock of H. Rider Haggard First Editions, fine bindings, sets and other collectible material.
![Benita [published in the US as 'The Spirit of Bambatse']. An African Romance. Henry Rider HAGGARD](/pictures/thumb/56926.jpg?v=1593535204)
Benita [published in the US as 'The Spirit of Bambatse']. An African Romance.
London: Cassell & Company, Limited. 1906. [Adventure novel] FIRST EDITION. Octavo (20 x 13cm), pp.viii;344 [8], 'New Fiction'; [8], publisher's 'Selection', both dated 7.06. With 16 Illustrated plates including frontispiece by Gordon Browne. In publisher's red cloth with gilt titles to spine and upper board. Publisher's green 'archer' design endpapers..... More
Benita. An African Romance.
London: Cassell & Company, 1909. [African Adventure] SIXPENNY NOVEL. Octavo (22 x 16cm), pp.viii; 160. With a black and white frontispiece illustrated by Gordon Browne. Publisher's colour-illustrated paper covers. Browned throughout, with some dog-earing to top right corner. Light rubbing to covers with minor losses to head and tail of..... More
The Brethren.
London: Cassell and Company, Limited, 1904. [Historical fiction] FIRST EDITION. Octavo (20 x 14cm), pp.viii; 342; [16] publisher's advertisements. Publisher's red cloth, gilt titles to spine and upper board, repeating crouched archers pattern to endpapers. Internally fine, some spotting, dustiness to edges, hinges starting, ownership label to pastedown. Cloth shows..... More
Lysbeth. A Tale of the Dutch.
London: Longmans, Green and Co., 1901. [Historical fiction] FIRST EDITION. Octavo, pp.xiv; 496; [4], adverts. With 26 illustrations by Jacomb Hood. Publisher's gilt-titled blue cloth with coated black endpapers. Contents clean, edges of text block a little spotted, binding lightly handled and rather bright; an attractive, near fine copy of..... More
Nada the Lily.
London: George Newnes, no date [1915]. [Historical African Adventure] SIXPENNY NOVEL. Octavo (21 x 15cm), pp.224. Publisher's blue illustrated paper covers. Light browning and spotting to edges and preliminaries. Only very light wear and spotting to covers. Old tape reinforcements to head and tail of spine. A remarkably crisp, clean..... More
![An Incident of African History [and] M.I. [in] The Windsor Magazine. Volumes XIII and XIV. Sir H....](/pictures/thumb/49974.jpg?v=1583755546)
An Incident of African History [and] M.I. [in] The Windsor Magazine. Volumes XIII and XIV.
London: Ward, Lock and Co., December 1900 to November 1901. [Literary Magazine] FIRST APPEARANCES. In two volumes. Octavo (24 x 18cm), pp.vi; 754; pp.vi; 714. With frequent photogravure illustrations. Publisher's green cloth with gilt and dark brown titles and decoration to spines and upper boards. Blue ink ownership inscription to..... More
The Lady of Blossholme.
London: Hodder and Stoughton, 1909. [Historical Fiction] FIRST EDITION, first state with misprint to p.79, line 16 'very' for 'every'. Octavo (19 x 13cm), pp.316, with five colour plate illustrations by Wal Paget. Publisher's mid-green cloth, with gilt titles and colour illustration laid down to upper. Contents clean, some bumping..... More
The Lady of Blossholme.
London: Hodder and Stoughton, 1909. [Historical Fiction] FIRST EDITION, first state with misprint to p.79, line 16 'very' for 'every'. Octavo (19 x 13cm), pp.316, with five colour plate illustrations by Wal Paget. Publisher's mid-green cloth, with gilt and black titles and a colour illustration laid down to upper. Contents..... More
Beatrice. Newnes Sixpenny Novels Illustrated.
London: George Newnes, n.d. [c.1895]. SIXPENNY NOVEL. Octavo, pp.192. With eight lithographic illustrations by Cyrus Cuneo. In publisher's colour illustrated paper covers. Browned, as expected, with some marks to front cover. Very good indeed considering its fragility. More
Belshazzar.
London: Stanley Paul and Co., [1930]. [Historical Fantasy] FIRST EDITION. Octavo (19 x 13cm), pp.285 [33]. Publisher's tan cloth with brown titles to spine and upper. Some black ink spots to front endpapers. Spotting to first 20 pages or so, and to publisher's catalogue at rear. Heavy spotting to edges..... More
The Brethren.
London: Cassell, 1930. Classic fantasy adventure. 8vo. Popular Edition, a 2/6 novel. Publisher's cloth, in pictorial dustwrapper. Text block a little foxed at edges, otherwise a very good copy in like jacket showing some sun-lightening. Attractive. More
Child of Storm.
London: Cassell, 1933. Fantasy adventure. 8vo. Popular edition a 2/6 novel. Publisher's cloth, in pictorial dustwrapper. Text block a little foxed at edges, otherwise a very good copy. More
Cleopatra. 6d Paper Novels 38.
London: Wight and Brown, n.d. [c.1930's]. SIXPENNY NOVEL. Octavo, pp.128. In publisher's colour illustrated paper covers. Heavily browned; some losses to spine; hinges very weak. Good overall considering fragility. More
Cleopatra. Being an Account of the Fall and Vengeance of Harmachis, the Royal Egyptian, as set forth by his own Hand.
London: Longmans, Green and Co., 1889. [Adventure Fiction] FIRST EDITION, First issue, adverts dated January, 1889. Octavo (20 x 13cm), pp.xvi; 336; [16]. With thirty illustrations, errata slip p.xv. Publisher's blue-grey cloth, bevelled edges, gilt titles, edges untrimmed, patterned endpapers. Light spotting, some leaves unopened/uncut, very light rubbing to extremities;..... More
Cleopatra. Being an Account of the Fall and Vengeance of Harmachis, the Royal Egyptian, as set forth by his own Hand.
London: Longmans, Green and Co., 1889. [Adventure Fiction] FIRST EDITION, First issue, adverts dated January, 1889. Octavo (20 x 13cm), pp.xvi; 336; [16]. With thirty illustrations. Publisher's blue-grey cloth, bevelled edges, gilt titles, edges untrimmed, patterned endpapers. Some spotting, contemporary newspaper review clipped and affixed to flyleaf, armorial bookplate to..... More
Doctor Therne.
London: Longmans, Green and Co., 1898. [Literature] FIRST EDITION. Octavo (19 x 14cm), pp.x; 253; [1], blank; [1], imprint; [1], blank. Original pale brown cloth lettered in gilt and dark brown with 'swan' patterned endpapers. Contents clean, some dustiness to edges, pale boards show some marks; very good. According to..... More
Finished.
London: Ward, Lock and Co., 1917. [Fantasy Adventure] FIRST EDITION. Octavo (20 x 14cm), pp.320. With a black and white half-tone frontispiece. Publisher's green cloth with black titles to spine and upper board. Hinges split; spotting to edges and preliminaries. Rubbing to boards; spine head pulled; corners bumped. Good. The..... More
Finished.
London: Ward, Lock and Co., 1917. [Fantasy Adventure] FIRST EDITION. Octavo (20 x 14cm), pp.320. With a black and white half-tone frontispiece. Publisher's mid-green cloth with stylistic blue titles to spine and upper. Edges of text block toned, dicreet ink name and date to pastedown, binding rather clean. A very..... More
The Ghost Kings.
London: Cassell, 1908. [Fantasy adventure] FIRST EDITION. Octavo (20 x 14cm), pp.viii; 376 [8], advertisements printed in bright green ink. With eight stirring full page illustrations by A.C. Michael. Publisher's dark blue cloth titled and decorated in gilt to spine and front board. Discreet blind-stamped monogram to prelims, some spotting..... More
Jess.
London: Smith, Elder, and Co., 1887. [Boer War Fiction] FIRST EDITION. Octavo (20 x 14cm), pp.viii; 336 [8]. Publisher's red cloth with gilt titles to spine and black titles to upper board. Foliate patterned endpapers. Some very light tape burns to endpapers. Spine sunned, with some light rubbing and a...... More
Joan Haste.
London: Longman's, Green, and Co. 1895. [Romantic Adventure] FIRST EDITION. Octavo (20 x 13cm), pp.x; 425; [3], blank; 24, catalogue dated July 1895. With a frontispiece illustration and 19 further plates. Publisher's blue-grey cloth, bevelled edges, gilt titles, black endpapers. Some spotting, neat ink ownership, corners rubbed, short tear to..... More
Joan Haste.
London: Longman's, Green, and Co., 1895. [Romantic Adventure] FIRST EDITION. Octavo (20 x 13cm), pp.x; 425; [3], blank; 24, catalogue dated July 1895. With a frontispiece illustration and nineteen further plates. Publisher's blue-grey cloth, bevelled edges, gilt titles, black endpapers. Some mild spotting/toning; generally fresh in a crisp binding. Most..... More
King Solomon's Mines.
London: Cassell & Company, 1898. [Fantasy Adventure] SIXPENNY NOVEL. Octavo (22 x 15cm), pp.128. With five in-text illustrations by Walter Paget. Publisher's plain paper covers, with titles and an illustration in blue to upper. Toned throughout with some spotting to preliminaries. Covers quite heavily browned and spotted. Joints just starting..... More
King Solomon's Mines.
London: Cassell & Company, 1886. [Fantasy Adventure] FINELY BOUND EARLY EDITION, the thirty-fourth thousand. Octavo (19 x 13cm), pp.[6] 320 [2]. With the chromolithographic folding frontispiece, bound in upside-down. Later black half morocco with raised bands, gilt titles to spine, and matching cloth over boards. Edges trimmed. Frontispiece mis-folded to..... More
Love Eternal.
London: Cassell and Company, 1918. [Great War Romance] FIRST EDITION. Octavo (20 x 13cm), pp.[8] 344. With a colour frontispiece illustration. In publisher's blue cloth with gilt titles to spine, and blind to upper. Tape burns to endpapers. Heavy spotting to edges and the first 80 pages; light occasional spotting..... More