“INFINITELY MORE AMUSING THAN MANY A LETTER BOOK”

MADDEN, R.R. The Literary Life and Correspondence of The Countess of Blessington. London: T.C. Newby, 1855. Three volumes. Octavo, contemporary three-quarter red morocco gilt, raised bands, marbled endpapers, top edges gilt. $750.

First edition of Madden’s biography of the celebrated beauty and prolific woman of letters, with four engraved plates (including frontispiece portraits of Lady Blessington and the Count D’Orsay by R.J. Lane) on India paper and mounted, handsomely bound.

A friend of Lady Blessington's for over a quarter-century, Madden here presents the Irish novelist's life with a focus on her literary pursuits and friendships. He includes her correspondence with a great many notable social, political and literary figures, among them Disraeli, Dickens and Lord Byron. "These volumes are infinitely more amusing than many a letter book" (Allibone II:1199). Davis & Joyce 430. Armorial bookplates. Occasional marginalia.

Frontispiece of Volume I with light dampstaining to lower margin, not affecting image. An about-fine set, handsomely bound.