H. Rider Haggard Works
1919 - When the World Shook
The earliest appearance of WHEN THE WORLD SHOOK that I know of is as a serialized novel, published under the title YVA in America in The Pittsburgh Sunday Post Feature Section of The Pittsburgh Post. While I do not own and have not seen the first part, I do have what is likely the second part, dated February 24, 1918. The San Francisco Examiner began its serialization of this novel on February 24, 1918 (The American Weekly section). Howard Chandler Christy created the color illustration of the first part that appeared in The American Weekly. And, it seems that Edmund Frederick created the rest, an unknown number, of the illustrations for these serializations.
The earliest appearance of WHEN THE WORLD SHOOK in Britain is as a serialized novel, published in The Quiver from November 1918 through April 1919. A.C. Michael created 26 illustrations for the serialization.
Higgins claims that Cassell and Company paid ÂŁ400 ($39,000 in 2020 dollars) for the serial rights, and ÂŁ750 ($73,000 in 2020 dollars) was advanced for publication in book-form.
McKay, Scott, and Whatmore claim that Cassell published the first edition in book-form in London on March 20, 1919. None of Michael's 26 illustrations are in this edition, though there are 2 plates in black and white of 4 charts of stars. There are no ads at the end of the book. McKay and Scott claim that 14,000 copies were printed. The last page has a date-code of 219 (February 1919).
Longmans, Green and Company published the first American edition May 22, 1919. McKay and Scott both agree on the publication date in New York. In addition to a full-color frontispiece by Enos B. Comstock, the American edition used the same star-chart illustrations as Cassell did for its edition. There are no ads at the end of the book.
See the VisualHaggard.org page dedicated to the illustrations found in various editions.
I own three different parts of the YVA serialization from three different newspapers
I own the complete serialization of this novel in THE QUIVER, and below is the front cover of the first issue, which is in my collection.
Below: A few of A.C. Michael's illustrations, including this large one covering 2 pages
My copy of the Cassell British first edition original dust jacket, restored
Note the price on the spine, which signifies it was originally sold in either Australia/New Zealand, or Canada
A facsimile DJ is shown below for illustrative purposes
Below: Copies of the British first edition, variant bindings, none in my collection
Below: the British first edition title-page
Date-code of 219 (February 1919) on the last page
Below: Signed copies of the British first edition that I saw on the Internet (not mine)
Below: A nearly perfect Longmans, Green American first edition with original dust jacket, sadly not in my collection
Below: A copy of the American first edition original dust jacket that I wish I had not sold to someone else
My copy of the American first edition
I also own a copy of the 2nd printing
Below: The frontispiece and title-page of the first American edition.
Also below: Printing history from my 2nd printing.
Below: a British reprint published by Cassell
