First English edition, first issue with 'godness me' on page 269. Original blue cloth with gilt lettering to the spine and upper cover. Author's presentation copy, inscribed on the half title to his mother, "To/ my mother from Her affectionate + dutiful son H Rider Haggard / January 1887". Pictorial endpapers and two plate frontispiece. A very good copy indeed, wanting the rear end paper, with minor wear to the spine ends, but bright and clean.

Ella Haggard (nee Doventon), Rider's mother, was an amateur writer and poet, and seems to have had a close relationship with her children in what was a busy household (Rider was the eighth of ten children). He certainly seems to have regarded his mother with a great deal of affection,
"Here I will try to give some description of this mother with whom we were blest. Twenty-two years have passed since she left us, but I can say honestly that every one of those years has brought me to a deeper appreciation of her beautiful character." - H. Rider Haggard (The Days of My Life)
When Rider departed for South Africa at the age of nineteen, his mother wrote a touching farewell poem for him, clearly showing her depth of feeling
"... So, go thy way, my Child! I love thee well:
How well, no heart but mother's heart may know..."
The frequency of his correspondence with his mother whilst away is also testament to their closeness. On his return, Rider was set to follow his father's profession and study law, however he had already begun to write and soon abandoned his career at the bar to become a writer. Rider's mother continually supported this choice by encouraging his writing,
"Thank you greatly for your excellent work, my dear son. It certainly redounds greatly to you, dearest Rider, whatever the critics may say, and I have no doubt they will do their worst. But I think posterity will do justice to your production." - excerpt from letter from Ella to Rider.
"She" was dedicated to Andrew Lang, who had had a major hand in the publishing of King Solomon's Mines, thus establishing Haggard in the literary world, however Haggard's next major novel, Cleopatra, was dedicated to his mother.
"She", widely regarded as Haggard's best work, was an instant success and currently is one of the few nineteenth century novels never to have been out of print. In terms of influence it exceeds all Haggard's work and can be considered one of the foundations of imaginative fantasy literature.
Inscribed copies of "She" are both rare and highly prized. Only two copies have been recorded at auction in the last thirty years, both with significantly lesser associations, the last of which, inscribed to Edmund Gosse, sold in 2004 for $21,600.

Whatmore F4

Stock ID: 28028