H. Rider Haggard Works
1923 - Wisdom's Daughter
The Life and Love Story of She-Who-Must-Be-Obeyed
According to McKay and Scott, the first appearance of WISDOM'S DAUGHTER was as a serialized novel, published in Hutchinson's Magazine in 13 parts from March 1922 through March 1923. A.E. Jackson created 14 illustrations for the serialization.
McKay, Scott, and Whatmore claim that Hutchinson and Company published the first edition in book-form in London on March 9, 1923. Apparently, 11,000 copies were printed, without illustrations, with ads at the end of the book dated Spring 1923.
Higgins claims that Hutchinson paid £900 ($62,000 in 2020 dollars) for the serial rights, and £1000 ($69,000 in 2020 dollars) was advanced for publication in book-form.
Doubleday, Page and Company published the first edition in book-form in New York on March 9, 1923. McKay and Scott both agree on the New York publication date, and claim that 7,500 copies comprise the first printing. There are no illustrations, nor ads at the end of the book.
Grosset and Dunlap reprinted this title in America.
I do not own any of the books pictured below, unless noted. I do own copies of both the British and American first editions.
The front cover of the April 1922 HUTCHINSON'S MAGAZINE
This serialization, it is extremely rare. I do not own any of it.
The Hutchinson British first edition original dust jacket
This DJ is very rare and I do not own a copy
My copy of the British first edition, which was signed by HRH
My copy does not have any ads at the end
Below: my copy of the Hutchinson British first edition was signed and dedicated to Mrs. Pitt, whom HRH referred to as
"Wisdom's Second Daughter"
Below: The Doubleday first American edition original dust jacket. This DJ is extremely rare. I do not own an original DJ.
Below: My copy of the Doubleday first American edition
Below: the title-page for the American first edition
Below: My Hutchinson Second Edition DJ
Below: My Hutchinson Second Edition book is bound in red, but the blue is a variant binding for the second edition.
The red copy I imported from the UK and the blue copy was for sale in Australia. Not sure if the variant bindings have anythng to do with UK versus Australia.
Below: an original Hutchinson reprint DJ, not sure which edition or printing
Below: a Hutchinson reprint paperback
Below: an original Grosset & Dunlap reprint DJ that I sold to another collector
Below: a letter from Rudyard Kipling to HRH regarding Wisdom's Daughter
I cannot figure out why Kipling would write such a letter after Wisdom's Daughter had already been published.
