H. Rider Haggard Works
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1890 - The World's Desire
Co-written with Andrew Lang
Co-written with Andrew Lang
McKay, Scott and Whatmore claim the first appearance of THE WORLD'S DESIRE was as a serialization in THE NEW REVIEW from April through December 1890, but without any illustrations.
McKay, Scott and Whatmore agree that Longmans, Green, and Co. published its first edition on November 5, 1890 in London, without illustrations. The first edition comprises 10,000 copies. Ads at the end of the first editions are date-coded 10/90 (October 1890).
Longmans failed miserably with its first edition by not including any illustrations. They made up for it in a great way when they added 27 fabulous Maurice Greiffenhagen illustrations and a new preface by HRH and Lang to the 1894 edition.
Longmans failed miserably with its first edition by not including any illustrations. They made up for it in a great way when they added 27 fabulous Maurice Greiffenhagen illustrations and a new preface by HRH and Lang to the 1894 edition.
Harper & Brothers published in New York its first edition in 1890, without any illustrations.
See the VisualHaggard.org page dedicated to the illustrations found in various editions.
Longmans first British edition
Longmans first British edition
I am not usually a fan of Greiffenhagen's illustrations, mainly his depictions of the female face and form, but am impressed by his illustrations for this novel. Some of my favorites are below.
I am not usually a fan of Greiffenhagen's illustrations, mainly his depictions of the female face and form, but am impressed by his illustrations for this novel. Some of my favorites are below.
Below: photos that I found on the Internet of an original painting for one of the illustrations found in the first editions
Below: photos that I found on the Internet of an original painting for one of the illustrations found in the first editions
My copy of the Harpers first American edition
My copy of the Harpers first American edition
Title-page in my copy of the first American edition
Title-page in my copy of the first American edition
Below: My rebound 1898 SIGNED copy that HRH gifted to John Hays Hammond, part of a set of 23 volumes
Below: My rebound 1898 SIGNED copy that HRH gifted to John Hays Hammond, part of a set of 23 volumes
Below: the frontispiece of Helen by Greiffenhagen found in later impressions of the Longmans edition, and the title-page
Below: the frontispiece of Helen by Greiffenhagen found in later impressions of the Longmans edition, and the title-page
Longmans' Colonial Library (1899) and Silver Library editions, with the Greiffenhagen illustrations
Longmans' Colonial Library (1899) and Silver Library editions, with the Greiffenhagen illustrations
Newnes paperback reprints, some of which have illustrations
Newnes paperback reprints, some of which have illustrations
Hodder & Stoughton British reprint with original DJ
Hodder & Stoughton British reprint with original DJ
Below: a photo of the signature within the British first edition that HRH gave to his agent, A.P. Watt
Below: a photo of the signature within the British first edition that HRH gave to his agent, A.P. Watt
