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Editor's Statement

King Solomon's Mines

Kingsolomonsminescassell1907cover

King Solomon's Mines is Haggard’s first published and perhaps the most well known Allan Quatermain adventure. In this African romance, Allan and his English companions Sir Henry Curtis and Captain John Good use an old map to search for King Solomon's treasure. Before securing these riches, the men must outsmart the witch Gagool and return the native African Umbopa to his rightful place as King of Kukuanaland.

Cassell & Co., London, published the first edition of KSM in September 1885 in a printing of 2000 copies. Cassell, New York, published the first US Edition in November 1885. Cassell’s 53rd Thousand edition, the first illustrated version of KSM, included 9 illustrations by Walter Paget. In November 1905 Cassell, London, published an illustrated edition featuring 32 illustrations by W. Russell Flint. In 1912 Cassell, London, published another edition, this one illustrated with 8 plates by A. C. Michael. Cassell's 1915 edition includes only 4 of Michael's illustrations. The Reader's Library, London, published an edition with a dust jacket illustrated by Albert Morrow in c. 1920. In 1921, The Nugget Weekly published a serialization of KSM illustrated by John L. Bennett. In 1950, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer released a film adaptation of KSM directed by Compton Bennett and Andrew Marton, and starring Deborah Kerr, Stewart Granger, and Richard Carlson. A year later the publisher Ward, Lock and Co. published a new edition of KSM featuring photographic film stills from the movie. Macdonald & Co., London, published an edition of KSM illustrated by Hookway Cowles in 1956, 1st thus, with a 3rd imprint appearing in November 1964. Ballantine, New York, published an edition with cover art by Tom Beecham in c. 1963.

KSM was translated into many languages, and many of these translated editions were illustrated. In c. 1890, J. Hetzel et Cie, Paris, published a French edition titled Aventures D'Allan Quatremain Aux Mines de Salomon as part of their Bibliothèque des Succès Scolaires (School Success Library) series. C. Lemaire translated this edition into French, Th. Bentzon wrote a preface, and Édouard Riou illustrated this edition.

In 1888, Theo. Stroefer`s Kunstverlag, Nürnberg, published a German edition translated by M. Strauss and titled Umbopa König Von Kukuanaland. This edition has 24 illustrations, 4 colored lithographs and 20 woodcut illustrations. In 1898, Theo. Stroefer`s Kunstverlag published KSM again, presumably with the same illustrations, but using the title Diamantminen von Afrika. This edition has 24 illustrations by three artists: Henri Dochy (6 portraits of the adventurers), Édouard Riou (13, likely from the J. Hetzel edition), and Walter Paget (5 illustrations from the Cassell edition, one of which was used for the book cover). In 1910, Theodor Stroefer`s Kunstverlag, München, published KSM using the title Königs Salomos Schatzkammer.

Portuguese editions of KSM titled As Minas de Salomão published by Tradução Revista por Eça de Queiroz, Porto, Portugal, were published in 1902 and 1920. Lello & Irmão, Porto, Portugal, also published an edition, n.d.. All these editions include portraits of the author José Maria de Eça de Queirós on the frontispiece.

In 1970, Nuovi Sonzogno, Milan, published an Italian edition titled Le Miniere Del Re Salomone with an illustrated cover.

Ediciones Record, Buenos Aires, published a Spanish edition titled Las Minas Del Rey Salomon in 1976 illustrated by Jose Luis Salinas.

Further Reading


Haggard, H. Rider. The Days of My Life, An Autobiography. 2 Vols. London: Longmans, Green and Co., 1926. I: 220, 226, 231, 233. Print.


Pocock, Tom. Rider Haggard and the Lost Empire. London: Weidenfeld and Nicolson, 1993. 62-3, 65-6, 68, 71, 73, 84-5, 172, 178, 244. Print.


Whatmore, D.E.. H Rider Haggard: A Bibliography. Westport, CT: Meckler Publishing Co., 1987. F3, 5-7. Print.



Editions of King Solomon's Mines

Umbopakonigcover
Umbopa König Von Kukuanaland. Nürnberg: Stroefer, 1888.
Kingsolomonsminescassell1888cover
Sixty-third Thousand. London: Cassell & Company, Limited, 1888.
Livrariachardron1902frontispiece
As Minas de Salomão, Tradução Revista por Eça de Queiroz, 1902. Porto, Portugal: Livraria Chardron, 1902.
Kingsolomonsminescassell1907cover
Revised Edition. London: Cassell and Company, 1907.
Konigssalomosschatzkammerboards
Königs Salomos Schatzkammer. München: Theodor Stroefer`s Kunstverlag, 1910.
Kingsolomonsminescassellmichael1912cover
Reprint. London: Cassell & Company, Ltd., 1912.
Kingsolomonsminescassellmichaelcover
Reissue. London: Cassell and Company., Ltd., 1915.
Ecadelivrariafrontispiece
As Minas de Salomão, Traducção Revista por Eça de Queiroz, Quinta edição. Porto, Portugal: Livraria Chardron, 1920.
Kingsolomonsmineswardlocksfilmeditionsseriesdustjacket
The Book of the Film. London: Ward, Lock &. Co., 1951.
Kingsolomonsminesmacdonaldcover
Macdonald Illustrated Edition, 3rd imprint. London: Macdonald & Co, 1964.
Leminieredelresalomonesonzognodustjacket
Le Miniere Del Re Salomone. Milan: Nuovi Sonzogno, 1970.
Lasminasdelreysalomonedicionesrecordseriedeorodustjacket
Las Minas Del Rey Salomon, Serie De Oro. Buenos Aires: Ediciones Record, 1976.
Kingsolomonsmines1921nuggetweekly35
The Nugget Weekly, no. 34. London: Amalgamated Press, 5 March 1921.
Ecadelellofrontispiece
As Minas de Salomão, Tradução Revista por Eça de Queiroz . Porto, Portugal: Lello & Irmão, NA.
Aventuresdallanquatremain auxminesdesalomonhetzelcover
Aventures D'Allan Quatremain Aux Mines de Salomon. Paris: J. Hetzel et Cie, c. 1890.
Diamantminenvonafrikacover
Diamantminen von Afrika. Die Entdeckung der Schätze des Königs Salomo im dunklen Erdteil. Aus dem Englischen übersetzt von M. Strauß. Nürnberg: Theo Stroefer's Kunstverlag, c. 1900.
Kingsolomonsminesreaderslibrarycover
1st Edition Thus. London: The Reader's Library, c. 1920.
Kingsolomonsminesballantinec.1963dustjacket2
1st Edition Thus. New York: Ballantine, c. 1963.

Illustrations from King Solomon's Mines

Thesearchcassell1907277
Foundcassell1907304
Messengershadcassell1907149
Ecadelellofrontispiece
Ilitcassell1907280
Eyeglassesdocassell1907296
Itiscassell1907268
Thiswickedcassell1907
Commencedwithcassell1907284
Ecadelivrariafrontispiece
Struggledoncassell190787
Heeheecassell1907261
Heconsentedcassell1907293
Maplivraria22
Maplello30
Livrariachardron1902frontispiece
Maplivrariachardron190228
Facsimilieof1907map
Ahbougwan292
Nowwecassell1888298
Mapcassell18887
Ilikecassell188848
Fortherecassell188884
Thecorpsecassell188889
Tothosecassell1888268
Sketchmapcassell190721
Thereitcassell1907frontispiece
Inevercassell190737
Didyoucassell190723
Gagoolthecassell1907108
Withacassell1907156
Sirhenrycassell1907192
Thefemalecassell1907
Isawcassell190726
Icaughtcassell190744
Growdarkcassell1907170
Theroyalcassell1907138
Cutoncassell1907241
Ourgreatcassell1907222
Inanothercassell190778
Thankgodcassell190790
Goodsprangcassell1907101
Foodtoocassell1907135
Weare1912cassell46
Adreadful1912cassell215
Sirhenrycassell1888frontispiece
Sirhenrycassell18887
Standbackye170
Thedoomedcassell1888182
Toandfrofrontispiece
Preparethento112
Greatpowershe326
Preparethento1912cassel112
Greatpowerst1912cassell327
Toand1912cassellfrontispiece
Standback1912cassell170
Turnedand1912cassell59
Toandcassell1907211
Kingsolomonsminesreaderslibrarydustjacket
Greetingsthecassell1907177
Eddyingherecassell1907167
Hushhhcamecassell1907229
Kingsolomonsminesmacdonalddustjacket
Umbopakonigdustjacket
Leminieredelresalomonesonzognodustjacket
Twalakonigdiamantminenvonafrika84
Allanquatermaindiamantminenvonafrika3
Umbopadiamantminenvonafrika30
Unsermarschddiamantminenvonafrika46
Wasserwasserdiamantminenvonafrika54
Josedadiamantminenvonafrika60
Diamantminenvonafrikafrontispiece
Diamantminenvonafrikaboards
Diebegegnungdiamantminenvonafrika1
Johngooddiamantminenvonafrika27
Eineelefantenjagddiamantminenvonafrika36
Herentanzimdiamantminenvonafrika98
Foulataunflammertediamantminenvonafrika112
Sirhenrydiamantminenvonafrika5
Johngooddiamantminenvonafrika7
Sirhenrydiamantminenvonafrika24
Allanquatermaindiamantminenvonafrika21
Diemondfinfternisdiamantminenvonafrika108
Plandiamantminenvonafrika17
Sirhenrysdiamantminenvonafrika128
Beidendiamantminenvonafrika138
Foulatasunddiamantminenvonafrika150
Endediamantminenvonafrika173
Eineelefantenjagddiamantminenvonafrika31
Aventuresdallanquatremainauxminesdesalomonhetzelfrontispiece
Konigssalomosschatzkammerboards
Diehallediamantminenvonafrika144
Sirhenrysdiamantminenvonafrika168
Nearerandcassell1888167
Aventuresdallanquatremainauxminesdesalomonhetzelfrontmaterial
Aventuresdallanquatremainauxminesdesalomonhetzelboards
Kingsolomonsmineswardlocksfilmeditionsseriesdustjacket
Kingsolomonsmines1921nuggetweekly35
Lasminasdelreysalomonedicionesrecordseriedeorodustjacket
Kingsolomonsminesballantinec.1963dustjacket2
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