London: Colburn and Co., 1852. Item #981

Three vols, 12mo.  205 x 130 mm., [ 8 x 5 ¼ inches].  viii, 319 [1] pp., plus 8 pp. ads.; [2], 282 pp., plus 24 pp. ads.; [2], 286 [2] pp., plus 16, [2] pp. ads. Bound in original light blue fine morocco-grained cloth, boards stamped in blind, spines lettered and numbered in gilt, tiny ink mark on the upper joint of volume I otherwise an exceptionally fine and attractive copy.

First edition. In her introduction the author explains that she was educated and resident abroad since infancy and had spent many years “amidst the most brilliant scenes of Italian society.” This position has given her a special insight into the Italian character. She goes on, “Should, therefore, anything in these pages appear too highly coloured or exaggerated to the English reader, he is requested to bear in mind that the portraits are nether taken from hearsay nor imagination, but drawn from personal observation, and is as well acquainted with Italy as he may be with England.” The beauty of the title is an English girl, Aurelia Mandeville.

Extremely rare three decker novel, not in Sadlier, Woolf, OCLC, NCBEL and the British Library.  The attribution of the author as Mrs. B. Webster is made in the catalogue description in the Bodleian Library, the only source found citing this work.

Fine Copy of a Rare Three Decker.

Price: $1,750.00