Valentine M’Clutchy, the Irish Agent or, The Chronicles of Castle Cumber. Together with the Pious Aspirations, Permissions, Vouchsafements and other Sanctified Privileges of Solomon M’Slime, a Religious Attorney. With Twenty Illustrations by Phiz. Dublin: James Duffy, 1856. First Edition Thus. Pp xii, 468. Full polished calf, spine with raised bands, compartments embellished in gilt, with russet letter pieces. Inner dentelles and floral cloth pastedowns & endpapers. Scattered foxing, but overall a lovely copy, beautifully bound.

With bookplates of Lord Ardilaum (Arthur Edward Guinness, best known for giving St Stephen’s Green to the Dublin Corporation for public use) & Benjamin John Plunkett (Bishop of Meath).

The first illustrated edition by H.K. Browne, better known by his pen name, ‘Phiz’. He illustrated many of the works of Charles Dickens and other prominent 19th centaury writers including Charles Lever and Harrison Ainsworth.

Carleton’s novel set in the early 19th century and is a vivid portrayal of the social and political conditions of Ireland at that time.