"There is no friend as loyal as a book."
— Ernest Hemingway
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
![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
Benita. An African Romance.
London: Cassell & Company, 1906. [Fantasy Adventure] FIRST EDITION. Octavo (20 x 14cm), pp.viii; 344 [16]. Catalogue date 8.06. With 16 illustrated plates, including a frontispiece, by Browne. Publisher's red cloth with gilt titles to spine and upper, and patterned endpapers. Black ink ownership to half-title. Heavy spotting to edges..... More
Allan's Wife. And Other Tales.
London: Spencer Blackett, 1889. [Fantasy Adventure] FIRST EDITION. Octavo (20 x 14cm), pp.331 [36]. With eight black and white illustrated plates by Greiffenhagen and Kerr, including a frontispiece. Publisher's brown cloth with gilt titles to spine and upper, and plum-coated endpapers. Large gum mark to front pastedown where a bookplate..... More
Ayesha. The Return of She.
London: Ward, Lock & Co., 1911. [Fantasy Adventure] VINTAGE COPY, a later edition. Octavo (20 x 13cm), pp.384. With eight black and white illustrated plates by Greiffenhagen, including a frontispiece. Publisher's cyan cloth with gilt titles and blind decoration to spine and upper. Some spotting to endpapers and preliminaries; toning..... More
Montezuma's Daughter.
London: Longmans, Green, and Co., 1893. [Historical Fiction] FIRST EDITION. Octavo (20 x 14cm), pp.viii; 325 [27]. With 24 black and white illustrated plates, including a frontispiece, by Greiffenhagen. Publisher's catalogue dated 8/93, making this an earlier copy than the one mentioned in Whatmore (11/93). Publisher's dark grey cloth with..... More
Swallow. A Tale of the Great Trek.
London: Longmans, Green, and Co., 1899. [Historical Adventure] FIRST EDITION. Octavo (19 x 13cm), pp.[2] x; 348. With eight black and white illustrated plates, including a frontispiece, by Greiffenhagen. Publisher's dark navy cloth with gilt titles to spine and upper, with bevelled edges and black-coated endpapers. Blind W.H. Smith stamp..... More
Black Heart and White Heart. And Other Stories.
London: Longmans, Green, and Co., 1900. [Fantasy Adventures] FIRST COLLECTED EDITION, FIRST ISSUE. Octavo (19 x 14cm), ppxii; 414. With the error '18' for '16' on page [xi] line 7. Illustrated with 34 plates, including a frontispiece, by Kerr and Townsend. Publisher's dark blue cloth with gilt titles to spine..... More
Child of Storm.
London: Cassell and Company, 1913. [Zulu / Fantasy Novel] FIRST EDITION. Octavo (20 x 14cm), pp.xvi; 348 [6]. With two black and white illustrated plates and a colour frontispiece by Michael. Catalogue date 1.13. Publisher's brown cloth with titles in gilt to spine and blind to upper. Thumbing, chips and..... More
The Ghost Kings.
London: Cassell and Company, 1908. [Fantasy adventure] FIRST EDITION. Octavo (20 x 14cm), pp.viii; 376 [8]. With eight black and white illustrated plates by A.C. Michael, including a frontispiece. Publisher's dark blue cloth with gilt titles to spine and a gilt device to upper. Illustrated bookplate to front pastedown. Heavy..... More
Marie.
London: Cassell and Company, 1912. [Zulu / Fantasy Novel] FIRST EDITION. Octavo (20 x 14cm), pp.xvi; 346 [2]. With three black and white plates and a colour frontispiece by Michael. Publisher's red cloth with titles in gilt to spine and blind to upper. Heavy spotting to edges, and occasionally throughout..... More
The Heart of the World.
London: Longmans, Green, and Co., 1896 [1895]. [Adventure novel] FIRST UK EDITION. Octavo (19 x 13cm), pp.[8] 348 [24]. Publisher's catalogue dated 12/95. With 15 full page black and white illustrated plates, including a frontispiece. Publisher's dark green cloth titled in gilt to spine and upper, with bevelled edges and..... More
Pearl-Maiden: A Tale of The Fall Of Jerusalem.
London: Longmans, Green, and Co., 1903. [Historical Novel] FIRST EDITION. Octavo (20 x 14cm), pp.[12] 463 [5]. With 16 engraved plates, including a frontispiece, by Shaw. Publisher's navy cloth with gilt titles to spine and upper. Moderate spotting throughout. Minor repairs to rear hinge. Fairly light wear to cloth, with..... More
Joan Haste.
London: Longmans, Green, and Co., 1895. [Romantic Adventure] FIRST EDITION. Octavo (20 x 13cm), pp.[2] x; 425 [27]. Catalogue dated July 1895. With a frontispiece illustration and nineteen further plates by Wilson. Publisher's dark navy cloth with gilt titles to spine and upper, with bevelled edges and black-coated endpapers. Spotting..... 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
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
The Brethren.
London: Cassell and Company, 1904. [Historical fiction] FIRST EDITION. Octavo (20 x 14cm), pp.viii; 342 [16]. Catalogue dated 9.04. Publisher's red cloth, with gilt titles to spine and upper, and patterned endpapers. Black ink ownership to half-title. Light spotting throughout; heavier to first and final leaves. Toning to edges. Hinges..... 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. Egyptian (or Ptolemaic) historical fiction set during the reign of the famous Queen Cleopatra (51-30 BC). 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
Doctor Therne.
London: Longmans, Green, and Co., 1898. [Medical Dystopia] FIRST EDITION. Octavo (19 x 13cm), pp.[2] x; 253 [3]. Publisher's light tan cloth with titles in gilt to spine and brown to upper, with patterned endpapers. Textblock shaken. Very light occasional spotting. Edges toned. Light wear to cloth; spine toned. Very..... 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