Charles Lever — Charles O&Apos;Malley, the Irish Dragoon

Dublin, William Curry, Jun and Company, 1841. First edition. Leather. The first edition thus of this Charles Lever novel, full of pranks and escapades, featuring the original illustrations by Phiz. The first edition. Two volumes bound in one. Collated, complete. Charles Lever studied at Trinity College, Dublin. The pranks he pulled off at Trinity College with his friend, Robert Boyle, would later be immortalised in his novels, alongside other escapades during his time in Dublin, adding a youthful, boyish charm to his writings. During his lifetime Lever wrote over twenty books, including 'Jack Hinton, the Guardsman', 'Tom Burke', and 'That Boy of Norcott's&apos. With a frontispiece to each volume, and forty-two further plates of the original illustrations by Hablot Knight Brown, better known for his pen name 'Phiz&apos. Browne was an English illustrator who illustrated ten of Charles Dickens' books, including 'David Copperfield', 'Dombey and Son', and 'Bleak House&apos. In a half calf binding, with marbled paper boards, and marbled endpapers. Externally smart. Fading to the calf at the rear joint, causing discolouration. Very light marking to the front board. Light fading to the spine. Internally, firmly bound. Pages are generally bright, with some age toning to the edges of pages. Scattered spotting, mostly limited to the first and last few pages, and to the plates. Just the odd spot and handling mark throughout the rest. Very Good Indeed . Ill.: Phiz. Very Good Indeed .