Original Carte de Visite Photograph - Henry Rider Haggard

Original CDV photograph of a young Henry (later Sir Henry) Rider Haggard, taken about the time he served on Theophilus Shepstone’s staff during the annexation of the Transvaal in 1877. Haggard returned to England after the Transvaal Rebellion of 1881 but later used impressions of his African adventures to fuel his literary career. His first book, Cetywayo and His White Neighbours, was a justification of Shepstone’s policies in the run-up to the Anglo-Zulu War; he later turned to writing a stream of highly successful adventure novels, including King Solomon’s Mines and She, many of which included romanticised elements from Zulu history. A rare early image, in excellent condition, with a presentation note by Haggard on the reverse.