With Buller in Natal – G. A. Henty 1901 1st Ed Illustrated Boer War
 
Also published as A Born Leader
George Alfred Henty (1832–1902)
Illustrated by William Rainey (1852–1936)
First Published Edition, dated 1901 (issued 1900)
Blackie & Son Ltd., London, Glasgow & Dublin
 
Description
A genuine first published edition of With Buller in Natal, one of G. A. Henty’s later imperial adventure novels, issued by Blackie & Son and dated 1901 at the foot of the title page – the accepted point of issue for Henty first editions. As is well documented with Blackie publications, the book was released in late 1900 for the Christmas market, with the forthcoming year printed to maintain commercial freshness.
This title is set against the backdrop of the Second Boer War, following British military campaigns in South Africa. It reflects Henty’s characteristic blend of historical conflict, adventure, and imperial ideology, written for a juvenile readership but now widely collected for its historical and illustrative value.
The volume is illustrated with 10 full-page plates by William Rainey, a noted British illustrator renowned for his dramatic historical scenes, along with a folding map of South-Eastern Africa. All plates and the map are present.
 
Illustrations & Map
10 full-page illustrations by William Rainey, including frontispiece
Loose plate facing page 64 (present)
Loose folding map of South-Eastern Africa (present)
All illustrations are complete and accounted for
 
About the Author – G. A. Henty (1832–1902)
George Alfred Henty was a prolific English novelist and war correspondent, renowned for his historical adventure fiction written primarily for young readers. Drawing on both rigorous research and firsthand experience as a journalist in the Crimea, Italy, and Abyssinia, Henty produced over 120 novels that popularised tales of courage, empire, military service, and moral resolve. His works became a defining feature of late Victorian boys’ literature and remain highly collectable today, particularly in original pictorial cloth bindings and first editions such as this example.
 
About the Illustrator – William Rainey (1852–1936)
William Rainey was a distinguished British illustrator and painter best known for his dramatic and highly detailed visual interpretations of historical and adventure narratives. He contributed illustrations to numerous works by leading Victorian and Edwardian authors, including G. A. Henty, enhancing the storytelling with vivid full-page plates that captured action, costume, and atmosphere. His work is now valued both artistically and bibliographically, adding desirability to illustrated first editions like this volume.
 
Binding & Exterior
Original pictorial stamped cloth, over boards
Gilt titles and colour illustration to front board and spine
Brown pastedowns and endpapers
Crown 8vo
Condition:
The binding remains intact, solid, and visually attractive for a book over 120 years old. There is light age-related wear, including:
Small marks and patches of rubbing, particularly to corners and edges
Bumping and small rips to the corners
Several small holes to the spine
Light wear along spine edges
Despite these points, the boards are robust and the book displays well on the shelf.
 
Interior Condition
Pages lightly tanned, as expected for age
Occasional light foxing and small marks, not affecting text
Pages predominantly uncreased
Pencil inscription to half-title page only
No further pen or pencil marks
Light cracking to the gutter at intervals
Plate facing p.64 and folding map loose but present
No missing pages
Collation complete:
384 pages, plus 32-page publisher’s catalogue at the rear
 
Physical Details
Approx. 19.3 × 14 × 4.4 cm
Weight: ~865 g
 
Historical & Collecting Context
G. A. Henty was among the most prolific and influential writers of historical adventure fiction of the Victorian and Edwardian eras. His works were especially popular with boys and young readers and are now actively collected for their historical interest, original bindings, and period illustrations.
With Buller in Natal is one of Henty’s later war novels, directly inspired by contemporary events of the Boer War, and is less commonly encountered than some of his earlier imperial adventure titles.