"There are perhaps no days of our childhood we lived so fully as those we spent with a favourite book."
— Marcel Proust
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
![Item #49974 An Incident of African History [and] M.I. [in] The Windsor Magazine. Volumes XIII and...](https://harringtonbooks-co-uk.cdn.bibliopolis.com/pictures/49974.jpg?width=320&height=427&fit=bounds&auto=webp&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 and black titles and a colour illustration laid down to upper. Contents..... 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
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
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 Wanderer's Necklace.
London: Cassell and Company, 1914. [Historical Fantasy] FIRST EDITION. Octavo (19 x 13cm), pp.xii; 328. With a colour-illustrated frontispiece and three black and white illustrations by Michael. Publisher's orange cloth with gilt titles to spine and blind titles to upper. Heavy spotting to edges, preliminaries and final leaves; lighter spotting..... 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. Spotting and toning to edges, and moderate spotting throughout. A black ink ownership to..... 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. Some..... More
Joan Haste.
London: Longmans, Green, and Co., 1895. [Romantic Adventure] FIRST EDITION. Octavo (20 x 14cm), pp.[2]; x; 425; [3], blank; 24, publisher's advertisements. Publisher's dark navy cloth with gilt titles to spine and upper, with bevelled edges and black-coated endpapers. With 20 illustrations by Wilson including a frontispiece. Some light 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
Black Heart and White Heart.
London: Longmans, Green, and Co., 1900. [Fantasy Adventures] FIRST EDITION, FIRST ISSUE. Octavo (19 x 14cm), pp.xii; 414. With the error '18' for '16' on page [xi] line 7. Publisher's dark blue cloth with gilt titles to spine and upper, with bevelled edges and black-coated endpapers. Illustrated with 34 plates..... 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. Ink ownership to half-title, some spotting, edges toned, contents shaken within the case. Fairly light wear and a...... 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. 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
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 lightly sunned, with some 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 nineteen further plates. Publisher's blue-grey cloth, bevelled edges, gilt titles, black endpapers. Some mild spotting/toning; generally fresh in a crisp binding. Very..... 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. The Arm Chair Library No. 4.
New York, NY: F.M. Lupton, 28th January 1893. [Fantasy Adventure] PIRATE DIME NOVEL. Octavo (22 x 15cm), pp.61 [3]. Publisher's plain soft covers, priced at 10c, or $2.50 for an annual subscription. Heavily browned. Chipping to covers, especially spine and corners. A rare survival. Very good. The first of the..... More
Mary of Marion Isle.
London: Hutchinson & Co., 1929. [Literature] FIRST EDITION. Octavo (19 x 13cm), pp.[2] 286. Publisher's light blue cloth with navy titles to spine and upper. Vestiges of pink pencil inscription to fly-leaf. Spotting to edges and light tape burns to fly-leaves and blanks. Light toning to spine and light general..... More