The Confessions of Harry Lorrequer
Dublin: Wm Curry Junr & Co, 1839. Phiz (Hablot K. Browne). First Edition. Hardcover. First printing in book form, octavo size, 350 pp. Near Fine. Item #130403485
First edition in book form of Lever's first book. Illustrated by Phiz (Hablot Knight Browne), written by Charles Lever (1806-1872) who, while a doctor by training, turned towards writing as a way to raise funds. Lever began publishing "The Confessions of Harry Lorrequer" in 1837 in serial form, publishing the stories in book form in 1839. Due to the success of Harry Lorrequer, Lever went on to write "Charles O'Malley" (1841), "Jack Hinton, The Guardsman" and "Tom Burke of Ours" (both in 1843) which, although Lever had never taken part in a battle himself, contain "some splendid military writing and some of the most animated battle-pieces on record." (Wikipedia). Lever's writing was highly-regarded in his day, and Anthony Trollope "praised Lever's novels...when he said that they were just like his conversation".
___DESCRIPTION: Custom bound in green half-calf over marbled boards, black leather spine label with gilt lettering, other spine compartments decorated in gilt, marbled end-papers, pictorial title page in addition to regular title page, plus twenty additional plates scattered throughout the text; octavo size (8.75" by 5.5"), pagination: (1)-4 being the Introduction, (i) being the Dedication, [blank], (v)-xviii being the Preface and Table of Contents, (5)-344.
___CONDITION: Overall near fine, with the custom binding being in fine condition, the text block is strong and square, the hinges solid, and the volume is entirely free of prior owner markings; some foxing to the plates as seems fairly usual, some heavier than others, while the text pages are mostly clean and bright, a few have light foxing.
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Price: $150.00