Allan's Wife, H. Rider Haggard — 1st Edition

£165.00

Allan's Wife, H. Rider Haggard — 1st Edition

Name: Allan's Wife, H. Rider Haggard — 1st Edition
Brand: Broadhursts Books
SKU: 6011
Price: 165.00 GBP
Availability: InStock

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Publication: London, Spencer Blackett, 1889

Formatting: 8vo, pp. 331.

Condition Report: Very Good. The book is tightly bound. The publisher's original brown cloth binding, cleverly designed with a mix of smooth and pebble-grain textures to simulate half-morocco, remains remarkably well-preserved beneath a protective plastic sleeve. The gilt lettering to the spine and front board is still notably bright and unoxidised, and the black-ruled lines remain distinct. There is minor rubbing to the spine ends and board corners, with a touch of softening to the head and tail of the spine. The hinges are sound, and the binding is reassuringly tight. Internally, the text block is generally clean, though some scattered foxing is present, most notably to the preliminary leaves. The edges of the page block are lightly age-toned, but the inner pages and illustrations remain crisp and highly presentable.

Catalogue Note: First Edition, First Issue (Whatmore 11; Scott 14), presented in the publisher's standard pictorial brown cloth binding. The volume is profusely illustrated with thirty-four atmospheric plates and vignettes by Maurice Greiffenhagen and Charles Kerr.

This collection is highly significant for enthusiasts of Haggard's Allan Quatermain series, as it features the first published appearance of the title novella, Allan's Wife. Alongside this major work, the book gathers three earlier, shorter tales, "Hunter Quatermain's Story," "A Tale of Three Lions," and "Long Odds," bringing them together for the first time in a single cohesive volume.

Copies of the first edition in the original cloth are increasingly uncommon on the open market in such well-preserved condition, as the heavy text block and delicate cloth binding often lead to severely cracked hinges and spine wear in most surviving examples.

Allan's Wife and Other Tales further chronicles the life of H. Rider Haggard's most famous adventurer, Allan Quatermain. The principal novella offers a poignant and thrilling look into Quatermain's early years, detailing his marriage and harrowing encounters in the African wilderness. Combined with three additional gripping short stories of hunting and survival, this collection provides an essential, action-packed expansion to the Quatermain mythos that will captivate any fan of classic Victorian adventure fiction.

Book Condition: Very Good

Book Authors: H. Rider Haggard

Book Publisher: Spencer Blackett

Book Language: English

Narrative Type: Fiction

Genre: Adventure

Book edition: First Edition

Signed: No

Book Pages: 331

Book Publication Year: 1889

Book Publication Date:

Book Binding: Hardcover

Illustrator: Maurice Greiffenhagen and Charles Kerr

Book Series: Allan Quatermain

Country/region of manufacture: London, United Kingdom

Book Dimensions:

Book Condition Guide

We stock thousands of books in a wide range of conditions. To make things clear and to help you know exactly what to expect, Please refer to these condition categories to understand the condition of the book you will receive.

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.