A Gardener's Year, H. Rider Haggard — 1st Edition
In stock
Shipping is calculated at checkout.
Publication: London, Longmans, Green, and Co., 1905
Formatting: 8vo, pp. xii, 404.
Condition Report: Good. The binding remains sound and secure, though the exterior exhibits noticeable wear commensurate with its age and use. The original blue cloth boards show a prominent dark circular stain to the front cover, alongside general surface rubbing and scuffing. The spine is heavily sunned, having faded entirely from its original blue to a flat brown, with typical bumping and minor fraying at the head and tail. The deckled fore and bottom edges are age-toned. Internally, the text block is pleasingly square. The endpapers display significant offset browning, a common occurrence with the materials of this period, yet the interior pages, folding map, and twenty-five photographic plates remain largely bright and clean, with only occasional, minor age-related blemishes.
Catalogue Note: First Edition. This volume is a true first printing of H. Rider Haggard's horticultural departure from his famous adventure fiction. The text is generously illustrated with twenty-five plates, including a frontispiece and a detailed fold-out map of the Ditchingham House gardens.
Finding a true first edition with all plates and maps intact is increasingly uncommon, appealing to Haggard completists and collectors of Edwardian gardening literature alike.
Blurb: Penned by the celebrated author of King Solomon's Mines, A Gardener's Year offers a captivating and deeply personal departure from H. Rider Haggard's typical tales of adventure. This month-by-month horticultural diary meticulously documents the triumphs and tribulations of cultivating the grounds at his Ditchingham estate. Blending practical gardening insights with Haggard's distinctive narrative flair, the book explores the cultivation of orchids, the management of lawns, and the philosophy of Edwardian rural life, serving as a charming window into the private passions of one of the era's most beloved writers.
Book Condition: Good
Book Authors: H. Rider Haggard
Book Publisher: Longmans, Green, and Co.
Book Language: English
Narrative Type: Non-Fiction
Genre: Leisure, Crafts & Hobbies
Book edition: First Edition
Signed: No
Book Pages: 404
Book Publication Year: 1905
Book Publication Date:
Book Binding: Hardcover
Illustrator: N/A
Book Series: N/A
Country/region of manufacture: London, United Kingdom
Book Dimensions:
Book Condition Guide
| Condition | Description |
|---|---|
| New | A brand-new, unread and professionally handled book. Carefully preserved from publication to purchase, these books are offered in the best attainable condition. This grade applies to recently published titles that have not entered long-term storage. |
| As New | The book is in pristine, original condition as if just published. No signs of use or handling. The dust jacket (if present) is equally flawless. This grade applies to any book that has remained untouched in storage for years. |
| Fine | The book is close to As New. It remains bright and attractive, but could show minor imperfections to the boards and/or dust jacket (if present). Its pages are typically clean and unmarked. |
| Near Fine | The book has a number of small flaws, i.e. slight rubbing to the edges, or tiny chips or creases to the dust jacket (if present). Its pages may have faint marks, or creases that are barely perceptible — nothing that detracts from their overall condition. |
| Very Good | The book maintains its structural integrity, and has no major flaws such as tears to its binding or pages. It may, however, show signs of careful use, handling, or storage — small marks and creases, light foxing. Its dust jacket (if present) remains fully intact, but small tears may be present. |
| Good | A book that remains intact and readable with complete text pages, but shows moderate signs of wear and use to both the book and dust jacket (if present). It may have noticeable creases, nicks, or stains, and the spine likely shows fading, bumping, and rubbing. There could be writing, underlining, and other marks on some pages, though the majority will be clean and tidy. |
| Fair | A book with significant wear or damage. The text pages will be complete, but there may be heavy underlining, highlighting and staining throughout, and the book’s endpapers, half-title, and copyright pages could be damaged or missing. The binding could be loose, and the dust jacket (if present) may have notable scuffs or tears. These copies are usually of interest for content, signature(s) or scarcity. |
| Poor | A heavily worn book whose value lies in its complete and legible text. A poor book will have substantial defects — loose joints or hinges, detached covers, loose and/or missing pages, and could be heavily soiled. A poor book is also known as a reading copy, and although compromised, can hold historical or bibliographic significance. |
Get in touch
You may also like
Join the Broadhurst Archive
Be the first to hear about rare new arrivals, signed editions, and literary events. A century of stories delivered straight to your inbox.