Ayesha: The Return of She

London: Ward, Lock & Co. Limited, 1905. Hardcover. True First UK Edition, First Printing (title page dated 1905). Original navy blue cloth with gilt lettering and ornamental framing to front board and spine. Illustrated with frontispiece by Maurice Greiffenhagen. Condition: Very Good-. Original cloth shows light rubbing, edge wear, and mild surface soiling, but the front board gilt and orientalist motif remain clear and bright. Spine is straight with minor bumping to tips; gold lettering is sharp and fully readable. Internally sound and clean with light age-toning to endpapers. Features a delightful, affectionate contemporary gift inscription on the front free endpaper dated October 1905 (the exact month of publication): "To you dear husband, 'The Return of She' - with love and greetings. Oct. 1905. London." Also retains a small vintage bookseller ticket to front paste-down. A very presentable, characterful copy of Haggard's classic Lost World sequel.