"THE SUREST FUND OF DROLLERY"

LEVER, Charles. The Bramleighs of Bishop's Folly. London: Smith, Elder, 1868. Three volumes. Octavo, contemporary full tan calf gilt, elaborately gilt-decorated spines, raised bands, green and blue morocco spine labels, marbled endpapers, top edges gilt. $700.

First edition, handsomely bound by Bradstreet’s.

A witty novel set in Northern Ireland and Italy dealing mainly with the exploiting of a coal mine. A prolific Irish writer, Charles Lever was known for his spirited and amusing character portrayals. Thackeray visited Lever on his tour through Ireland, urging him to move to London to write, and dedicated his Irish Sketch Book to Lever. Trollope writes of him in his Autobiography: "Of all the men I have ever encountered, he was the surest fund of drollery."

Very light scattered foxing. Fine condition, handsomely bound.