The Holy Flower, H. Rider Haggard — 1st Edition

£60.30

The Holy Flower, H. Rider Haggard — 1st Edition

Name: The Holy Flower, H. Rider Haggard — 1st Edition
Brand: Broadhursts Books
SKU: 6928
Price: 60.30 GBP
Availability: InStock

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Publication: London, Ward, Lock & Co., Limited, 1915

Formatting: 8vo, pp. 368, 16.

Condition Report: Good. The structural integrity of the binding remains fundamentally sound with secure hinges, though the dark blue cloth boards exhibit pronounced shelf-wear. This is most critically evident as significant frictional rubbing and distinct colour loss along the entirety of the front joint and spine extremities. Despite this external wear to the cloth, the gilt debossing of the title and the intricate orchid motif on the upper board remain remarkably bright and unoxidised. Internally, the text block presents moderate to heavy foxing, a common paper oxidation flaw for this Edwardian stock, particularly localised to the preliminary pages, endpapers, and the closed text block edges. An adhesive numerical tag is present on the front pastedown, but the primary text remains highly legible and unaffected by the peripheral spotting.

Catalogue Note: This is a true first UK edition, first printing of H. Rider Haggard's classic Allan Quatermain adventure, issued by Ward, Lock & Co., Limited in 1915. While a US edition under the expanded title Allan and the Holy Flower was published concurrently by Longmans, Green, and Co., this UK imprint is particularly notable for featuring sixteen full-page black-and-white halftone plates by the celebrated illustrator Maurice Greiffenhagen, four more than its American counterpart.

The volume was issued in multiple publisher's cloth variants; this specific copy is bound in the dark blue cloth format featuring the prominent gilt orchid device. Although the publisher recorded a substantial initial print run of 14,000 copies, obtaining exact-match examples that retain their original decorative tooling without severe structural hinge failure has become increasingly uncommon, as the period cloth is highly susceptible to fading and joint deterioration.

In this thrilling instalment of the Allan Quatermain mythos, the legendary hunter is lured back into the uncharted depths of the African interior in pursuit of a botanical myth, the eponymous 'Holy Flower.' Guarded by a hostile and fanatical warrior tribe, a fearsome giant gorilla, and a history steeped in blood, this massive, legendary orchid is said to be the most magnificent specimen in existence. Financed by an eccentric, orchid-obsessed English gentleman, Quatermain's expedition forces the party to navigate treacherous landscapes, confront Arabian slave traders, and survive deadly tribal conflicts in a definitive masterclass of Edwardian high adventure and lost-world romance.

Book Condition: Good

Book Authors: H. Rider Haggard

Book Publisher: Ward, Lock & Co., Limited

Book Language: English

Narrative Type: Fiction

Genre: Adventure

Book edition: First Edition

Signed: No

Book Pages: 368

Book Publication Year: 1915

Book Publication Date:

Book Binding: Hardcover

Illustrator: Maurice Greiffenhagen

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.