"Outside of a dog, man's best friend is a book. Inside of a dog, it's too dark to read."
— Groucho Marx
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.
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 about Lysbeth. A Tale of the Dutch
![An Incident of African History [and] M.I. [in] The Windsor Magazine. Volumes XIII and XIV. Sir H....](/pictures/thumb/49974.jpg?v=1513346118)
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 about An Incident of African History [and] M.I. [in] The Windsor Magazine. Volumes XIII and XIV
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 about The Lady of Blossholme
Allan Quatermain. Being An Account of His Further Adventures and Discoveries In Company With Sir Henry Curtis, Bart., Commander John Good, R. N. and One Umslopogaas.
London: Longmans, Green, and Co., 1887. [Literature] First Edition, First Issue. Octavo (20 x 14cm), pp.[x]; 278; [2]. Twenty plates including frontispiece and numerous in-text illustrations. Publisher's slate blue cloth over bevelled boards, gilt tiles to spine and upper, patterned endpapers. A later facsimile copy of H. Rider Haggard's bookplate... More about Allan Quatermain. Being An Account of His Further Adventures and Discoveries In Company With Sir...
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 about Beatrice. Newnes Sixpenny Novels Illustrated
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 about The Brethren
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 about Child of Storm
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 about Cleopatra. 6d Paper Novels 38
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 about Cleopatra. Being an Account of the Fall and Vengeance of Harmachis, the Royal Egyptian, as set...
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 about Cleopatra. Being an Account of the Fall and Vengeance of Harmachis, the Royal Egyptian, as set...
Finished.
London: Longmans, No Date [c.1920s]. Fantasy adventure. 8vo, pp.320. A 3/6 novel. Publisher's cloth, in pictorial dustwrapper. Text block a little foxed at edges, otherwise fine in a particularly crisp dustwrapper, unfaded to the spine. A sharp copy. More about Finished
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 about Finished
The Heart of the World.
London: Longmans Green and Co., 1896. [Adventure novel] FIRST ENGLISH EDITION. Octavo (19 x 13cm), pp.[viii]; 348; 24, catalogue dated 12/95. With full page black and white plates throughout. Publisher's bottle green cloth titled in gilt, bevelled edges, coated black endpapers. Contents clean, binding lightly handled with sunned spine; a.... More about The Heart of the World
Jess. A Tale of The Boer War.
London: George Newnes, 1899. First Newnes Sixpenny Novels edition. 8vo. Publisher's light blue illustrated paper wraps. Clean and bright with negligible edgewear and some sunning to the spine panel and a traingle of the rear panel unfortunately detracting a small amount from the charm of a bizarre advertisement for Monkey... More about Jess. A Tale of The Boer War
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 about Joan Haste
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 about Joan Haste
The Mahatma and The Hare. A Dream Story.
London: Longman's, Green, and Co., 1911. [Fantasy novel] FIRST EDITION. Octavo (18 x 13cm), pp.[xii]; 165; [3], blank. With twelve illustrations by W.T. Horton and H.M. Brock. Publisher's red cloth with pictorial upper. A couple of vintage tape marks to endpapers else internally clean. Binding is fine but for faded... More about The Mahatma and The Hare. A Dream Story
Maiwa's Revenge; or, The War of the Little Hand.
London: Longmans, Green, and Co., 1888. [Adventure novel] FIRST EDITION. Octavo (19 x 13cm), pp.iv; 216; 16, advertisements. Bound in publisher's black cloth with stylised carved titles in red to front board and spine, pale green swan design endpapers. Some spotting, edges of text block a little toned, a couple... More about Maiwa's Revenge; or, The War of the Little Hand
Marie.
London: Cassell, 1929. Classic fantasy adventure. 8vo. Popular Edition, 2/6 novel. Publisher's cloth, in pictorial dustwrapper. Text block a little foxed at edges, otherwise a very good copy in similar jacket, with a couple of minor chips to top edge. Attractive. More about Marie
Montezuma's Daughter.
London: George Harrap, 1935. Fantasy adventure. 8vo, pp.355. A 2/6 novel. Publisher's cloth, in pictorial dustwrapper. Text block a little foxed at edges, otherwise fine in a particularly crisp dustwrapper, with one small chip to spine top. Sharp copy. More about Montezuma's Daughter
Montezuma's Daughter.
London: Longmans, Green, and Co., 1893. [Historical Fiction] FIRST EDITION. Octavo (19 x 13cm), pp.viii; 325; 24, advertisements. Illustrated throughout with beautiful full-page plates, in black and white. Bound in publisher's blue-grey cloth over bevelled boards, with stylised Oriental titles in gilt to front board and spine, pale green swan... More about Montezuma's Daughter
Montezuma's Daughter.
London: Longmans, Green, and Co., 1893. [Historical Fiction] FIRST EDITION. Octavo (19 x 13cm), pp.viii; 325; 24, advertisements. Illustrated throughout with beautiful full-page plates, in black and white. Bound in publisher's blue-grey cloth over bevelled boards, with stylised Oriental titles in gilt to front board and spine, pale green swan... More about Montezuma's Daughter
Queen of The Dawn.
London: Hutchinson and Co., no date [1925]. [Fantasy novel] FIRST EDITION. Undated, but published 8th April 1925. FIRST ISSUE, with 'sisturm' for 'sistrum' page 11 line 12. Octavo (19 x 13cm), pp.287; 48, advertisements dated 'Spring 1925'. Bound in publisher's grey/green cloth, titled in black. Upper panel of scarce original... More about Queen of The Dawn
Queen of The Dawn.
London: Hutchinson and Co., no date [1925]. [Fantasy novel] FIRST EDITION. Undated, but published 8th April 1925. FIRST ISSUE, with 'sisturm' for 'sistrum' page 11 line 12. Octavo (19 x 13cm), pp.287; 48, advertisements dated 'Spring 1925'. Bound in publisher's grey/green cloth, titled in black. Spotting to prelims and edges... More about Queen of The Dawn
Queen Sheba's Ring
London, T Fisher Unwin 1916. An Unwin Shilling Novel. First in this format. In the elusive pictorial jacket. Small octavo, pp316 + 3 (advertisements). In publisher's blue cloth in original wrapper. Cheap wartime paper toned as usual, jacket with some acceptable wear and tear and a few chips to spine... More about Queen Sheba's Ring