The Martins Of Cro' Martin - Two Volumes Bound As One
By Charles Lever
With Illustrations by "Phiz"
Published by Chapman And Hall: London 1856
1st Edition
Profusely Illustrated With 38 Plates + Frontis + Vignette ALL Present (40 In Total) - Black Leather Bindings - Bookplate
"The Martins of Cro' Martin is one of Charles Lever's most vivid and socially perceptive novels, offering a lively portrait of Irish provincial life infused with humour, drama, and sharp observation. Set in the west of Ireland, the narrative follows the fortunes of the Martin family as they navigate questions of land, inheritance, social aspiration, and personal rivalry. Lever's storytelling is energetic and expansive, balancing comic episodes with moments of tension and reflection, and capturing the complexity of Irish society during a period of significant cultural and social change.
This scarce first edition, published in London in 1856 by Chapman and Hall, is richly illustrated by "Phiz" (Hablot K. Browne), whose engravings are integral to the reading experience. The volume includes the engraved frontispiece, vignette, and all 40 plates, complete and present, depicting animated scenes of domestic life, social gatherings, and dramatic incidents with Phiz's unmistakable flair and narrative clarity. The illustrations firmly place this work within the great tradition of mid-Victorian illustrated fiction and enhance its desirability as a collector's copy.
Bound in black leather with marbled endpapers, the book is further distinguished by an armorial bookplate to the front pastedown bearing the Latin motto Imitari Quam Invidere ("To imitate rather than to envy"), adding an appealing element of historical provenance. Complete, well-presented, and increasingly hard to find in first edition, this copy of The Martins of Cro' Martin would particularly appeal to collectors of scarce Victorian first editions, admirers of Phiz's illustrations, and readers interested in 19th-century Irish literature and social history."
Light wear and fading to covers and spine as pictured. Minor loss to top of outer spine. Light foxing present, mainly affecting plates with multiple examples shown. All 40 plates are present. Binding quality is excellent with firm, secure covers and no loose pages. A wonderful, 1st Edition copy in very good condition overall. Please study photos to further understand condition.
