Tales and Miscellaneous Pieces. London: Hunter; Baldwin et al., 1825. First Collected Edition. Fourteen Volumes. Engraved vignette on all title pages. Attractively bound full contemporary straight grained dark blue morocco, wide ornamental gilt border to sides enclosing another border in blind, spines gilt in compartments and gilt lettered direct, all edges gilt. Light rubbing to corners and extremities, otherwise a very god set.

Maria Edgeworth was one of the most successful Anglo-Irish authors of her generation. She published a huge number of books, including novels, stories for children and for adults, and a manual on Practical Education. Her descriptions of Irish character had encouraged Walter Scott to make a similar experiment upon Scottish character in the Waverly novels.

‘She plays for Ireland the role Jane Austen filled for England. Perhaps the first sympathetic interpreter of national characteristics, her contribution to the Celtic revival is of paramount importance” (Kunitz, British Authors of the 19th Century)