Irish

London: Baldwin and Cradock and J. Murray et al., 1832-33. 18 volume set, 7 inches tall. A very pretty set in an Edwardian binding by Riviere in the 'Art Nouveau' style with gilt raised bands and delicate floral gilt tooling to the panels. Git top edges. Each volume has an engraved frontispieces and vignette on the title pages. There is small shelf ticket on the pastedown endpapers. The Anglo-Irish novelist and children's writer, Maria Edgeworth, was one of the most read novelists in the first half of the nineteenth century. Now best remembered for 'Castle Rackrent', this is a fine edition in a splendid binding.

London: Chapman and Hall, 1865-69. A 17 volume collection, 7 3/4 inches tall. An exceptionally good looking Victorian full calf with gilt raised bands, twin labels and intricate gilt tooling to the panels. A wide gilt roll, gilt and blind fillets and corner tools frame the boards. Fine engraved frontispieces, title pages and full page illustrations by Phiz throughout. Though not a complete set of Lever's works this is a beautifully bound collection of 10 of his most popular novels, individually published, in 17 volumes. In his day the Irish novelist, Charles Lever, was hugely popular and influential and his rollicking style is still enjoyed.

London: Longman, 1846. Full crushed morocco, 10.5 inches tall. Splendid heavy Victorian binding with raised bands, extra floral gilt panels and boards, titles, dentelles and all edges. Illustrated throughout by Maclise with beautiful illustrations all within decorative borders. Some foxing throughout and light scuffing, a patch of leather on the lower board has been squidged with no loss.

Paris: Chez Chasseriau, 1823. Full straight grain morocco, 8 inches tall. Gilt raised bands, titles, fine gilt floral panels, gilt and blind tooled boards, dentelles and pink endpapers. All edges gilt. Portrait. A very elegant copy in pristine condition.

London: Chapman and Hall, 1854. Full calf, 9 inches tall. A superb Victorian full calf with gilt raised bands, twin labels, extra gilt panels and gilt top edge. Gilt triple fillets and corner tools frame the boards. With the armorial bookplate of the great collector Cecil E Byas and a Sotheran bookseller's ticket. Profusely illustrated with full page engravings by Phiz. First edition. A fine copy of one of this Irish novelist's most amusing novels.

Dublin: William Curry, 1843-1844. 3 volume set, 9 inches tall. A stunning tree calf by Riviere with gilt raised bands, twin, slightly faded, labels and very fine gilt tooling to the panels. Wide gilt dentelles and top edges. Illustrated by Phiz. Bookplates. Some foxing to the preliminaries, otherwise a lovely set of Lever's Military "Our Mess" novels.

London: Chapman and Hall, 1861. Full calf, 9 inches tall. A superb Victorian binding with gilt raised bands, triple labels and elaborate gilt tooling to the panels. Twin gilt fillets and centre tools frame the boards, gilt dentelles and top edge. Armorial bookplate. In his day the Irish novelist, Charles Lever, was hugely popular and influential. This is a fine copy of the first edition beautifully illustrated with full page engravings by Phiz.

Paris: Printed by Fain, 1821. 4 volume set, 7 inches tall. A scarce Paris English language edition of these influential and popular works in full roan with gilt bands, twin labels and distinctive gilt tooling to the panels including a roll of vines at the tail. Bumped corners and a couple of nicks on the head caps. Thomas Moore was an Irish writer, poet, and lyricist famed for his Irish Melodies.

London: Richard Bentley, 1839. Full calf, 6.5 inches tall. A most good looking early Victorian binding with gilt raised bands, twin labels and ornate gilt tooling, including shamrocks, to the panels. The engraved frontispiece and title page are foxed, otherwise the text is clean. Armorial bookplate. Complete in itself but published as volume XXIII in the series of Standard Novels. A handsome copy of Lover's great tale of the Irish Rebellion of 1641.