She – A History of Adventure
 
H. Rider Haggard - New Impression, 1900
32 Illustrations by Maurice Greiffenhagen & Charles H. M. Kerr
Longmans, Green & Co., London
With Remarkable Provenance Linking Two Owners Across Their Courtship and Marriage
 
Book Overview
 
This New Impression of 1900 is an exquisite antiquarian copy of H. Rider Haggard’s classic adventure novel She, first published in book form in 1887 following its serialisation in The Graphic (1886–87). The story follows Horace Holly and his ward Leo Vincey deep into the African interior, where they discover a lost civilisation and the mysterious white queen, Ayesha.
 
This copy contains the complete suite of 32 illustrations by Maurice Greiffenhagen and Charles H. M. Kerr, including a stunning frontispiece of Ayesha and 18 full-page plates – all present and accounted for.
 
Historical & Publishing Context
 
Published by Longmans, Green & Co., 39 Paternoster Row, London and printed by Spottiswoode & Co., this edition captures the golden era of late-Victorian adventure fiction, when Haggard’s works enjoyed phenomenal popularity. The gilt-stamped red cloth boards and ornate spine design are characteristic of high-quality turn-of-the-century gift editions.
 
Exterior Condition
 
Rich red cloth boards with gilt-stamped front cover border and decorative spine
Gilt lettering and illustration remain bright, with slight rubbing
Minor wear to board edges and corners
Light marks and gentle fading, more noticeable to spine
Spine has a noticeable lean but remains secure
 
Interior Condition
 
All 310 pages present and securely bound
Beautifully patterned endpapers and pastedowns
Occasional light foxing, mainly to endpapers and preliminaries
Pages lightly tanned, otherwise clean and free from major defects
Only minor creases or folds to a handful of pages
Two inscriptions on the front endpapers (see Provenance)
No loose pages; binding remains firm
 
Provenance – A Love Story in Two Inscriptions
 
This copy is made exceptional by its dual inscriptions from the same hand – those of William Harbottle Packwood (1860-1934), a retired clerk and descendant of a gentleman, to Fanny Matilda Gray (1881-1949), his future wife.
 
First inscription: “Frances Grey with kindest regards from W. P.” – written before their marriage.
Second inscription: “Fanny Matilda Packwood with fairest love from her devoted husband” – penned after their wedding.
 
Historical research reveals that the couple married on 14 October 1908 in Walton-on-the-Hill, Surrey. William’s father, William Bowles Packwood, was an iron merchant, son of George Packwood, a gentleman. Fanny was the daughter of Thomas John Gray, a blacksmith.
 
By the 1911 Census, William was noted as totally deaf, perhaps deepening his love of reading, and in 1921 the couple were living in Hythe, Kent. A poignant twist to their history emerges from 1910, when William spent two months at Napsbury under a mental health admission before returning home.
 
These inscriptions reveal not only ownership but a touching romantic continuity, showing that this volume was a cherished possession through courtship, marriage, and beyond. For collectors, such provenance adds both narrative richness and emotional depth to the work.
 
Measurements & Weight
 
Approx. 19.4 × 13 × 2.5 cm
Weight: ~626 g