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1908 - The Yellow God

Cupples & Leon Company published the first edition of THE YELLOW GOD in book-form in New York on November 25, 1908. There are 3 illustrations by Frank T. Merrill. There are no ads at the end of the book. McKay and Scott both agree on the New York publication date.

McKay, Scott, and Whatmore claim that Cassell and Company published the first edition in book-form in London on March 5, 1909. Apparently 12,500 copies were printed, with 3 illustrations by A.C. Michael. Ads at the end of the book are dated-coded 10.08 (October 1908). Some copies have ads dated-coded 3.09 (March 1909). My Colonial 

Higgins claims that Cassell paid ÂŁ450 ($77,000 in 2020 dollars) for the serial rights, and ÂŁ750 ($129,000 in 2020 dollars) as an advance for publication in book-form.

See the VisualHaggard.org page dedicated to the illustrations found in various editions.

Below: photos of the title-page and copyright page within one of the Cupples & Leon Company copies held by the Library of Congress. 

The title-page has no mention of the Merrill illustrations, whereas the first edition offered for sale to the public does.

April 20, 1908 is stamped and written on the copyright page. 

Below, a photo of the American first edition Dust Jacket

This is exceedingly rare. I used to own this very DJ, but in a moment of idiocy, sold it to another collector.

Below, a photo of my copy of the American first edition Dust Jacket

It is ridiculous that I have owned 2 copies of this DJ, when I have only ever seen 2 copies in over 25 years of collecting HRH.

Below, my copy of the American first edition (and facsimile DJ)

Frontispiece and title-page

Below, copies of the first edition, neither of which are mine

Frontispiece and title-page

The ads at the end of the first British edition are date-coded 10.08 and contain an ad for THE GHOST KINGS.


The ad for THE YELLOW GOD below was found in the 1910 first edition of MORNING STAR

The ads at the end of some of the first British editions are date-coded 3.09

A copy of the British first edition signed for Mrs. Pitt that I saw on the Internet (not mine)

Another signed copy of the British first edition that I saw on the Internet (not mine)

Below, my copy of the first British edition, second impression, which is very scarce. It appears, from the ads at the end, that my copy is a Colonial First Edition.

My copy of the first British edition is date-coded 209 (February 1909) on the last page

The title-page in my copy clearly states SECOND IMPRESSION, and the ads at the end of the book are date-coded 3.09 (March 1909)

David Frank, of SF & F Books, provided the image below: ads in the Colonial Edition date-coded 2.09 (February 1909)

Another variant copy of the British first edition, not mine

Cassell 1913 paperback


Not my copy

My copy of a June 1915 Cassell British original Dust Jacket