H. Rider Haggard Works
1916 - The Ivory Child
THE IVORY CHILDÂ is a sequel to THE HOLY FLOWER
Scott claims that the first appearance of THE IVORY CHILD was as a serialized novel, published in "various newspapers from January 4, 1915, and ran for 18 weeks." I have never seen a serialization within any newspaper. However, The Blue Book Magazine serialized this novel in 8 parts from February 1915 through September 1915. This serialization was not illustrated.Â
McKay, Scott, and Whatmore claim that Cassell and Company published the first edition in London on January 6, 1916, with 4 A.C. Michael's illustrations, the frontispiece in color. The are no ads at the end of the book, but the last page is date-coded 1115 (November 1915). McKay and Scott claim that 13,000 copies were printed.
Higgins claims that Cassell paid ÂŁ500 ($81,000 in 2020 dollars) for the serial rights, and ÂŁ750 ($122,000 in 2020 dollars) was advanced for publication in book-form.
McKay and Scott both claim that Longmans, Green and Company published the first American edition in New York on April 1, 1916. Longmans claims it published this novel in February 1916 (see below). The American edition includes the 4 A.C. Michael illustrations. There are no ads at the end of the book.
See the VisualHaggard.org page dedicated to the illustrations found in various editions.
I do not own the serialization of this novel in THE BLUE BOOK MAGAZINE
Below: the cover of the 1st issue in which the serialization appears, and its title-page
Below are the covers of the 8 issues in which the serialization appears
Below: A copy of the Cassell British first edition with original dust jacket
Sadly, not in my collection.
My SIGNED copy of the British first edition
6 days after publication, on January 12, 1916, HRH signed my copy of the British first edition when he was at Queen Anne's Mansions
Below: the British first edition frontispiece and title-page
Date-code on last page: 1115 (November 1915)
Below: photos of another copy of the British first edition, and a variant binding British first edition
neither are mine
Below: My copy of the American first edition, 4th printing (January 1924) original dust jacket
My copy of the American first edition, 4th printing (January 1924)
A copy of the American first edition, 1st printing that I used to own
The frontispiece for the Longmans, Green American first edition is the same as the one found in the British first edition.
Below: The title-page of the first American edition,Â
Also below: The printing history from my 4th printing, which shows the first printing was in February 1916, not April 1, 1916, as McKay and Scott claim.
Below: A copy of a 1929 Cassell British reprint with original DJ that I used to own
Below: A copy of a German edition
