Description

Click here to see our other books! The Literary Life and Correspondence of the Countess of Blessington R. R. Madden; Marguerite Gardiner, Countess of Blessington 1855 T. C. Newby : London 9" by 6" viii [1], 2-491; 484; 555 [1]pp SUMMARY A lovely copy of the first edition of R. R. Madden's account of the life and correspondence of the Countess of Blessington. In lovely half crushed morocco signed bindings from Henry Sotheran. Early Edition,First Edition,Leather Binding,Signed Binding Overall Condition: Very Good Indeed This book weighs 3 KG when packed UK Postage: £ 3.99 US Postage: £ 36.99 EU Postage : £ 25.99 European Postage: £ 27.99 Asia Postage: £ 47.99 Worldwide Postage: £ 69.99 DESCRIPTION With a frontispiece to each volume, and a further engraved portrait to volume II. Collated, complete. The Countess of Blessington, a known acquaintance of Lord Byron, was exceedingly beautiful and an accomplished hostess who shrugged off any attempt at conventional respectability. The Countess's name has been handwritten to the title page of volume III by a contemporary owner. The rumours surrounding the relationship between her, her husband the Earl of Blessington, and Count Alfred d'Orsay was memorably treated by Michael Sadleir in his 1937 study 'Blessington d'Orsay: A Masquerade', and the biography 'The Strange Life of Lady Blessington'. Author Richard Robert Madden was an Irish doctor, writer, abolitionist and historian, who made the acquaintance of Lady Blessington in 1823, and remained a close friend and confidant throughout her life, with access to her papers following her death. With the armorial bookplate of R. St. M. Delius to each front pastedown. Sadleir terms this work 'indispensable to any study of the life of Lady Blessington'. CONDITION In half crushed morocco signed bindings, with cloth covered boards. A touch of rubbing to joint heads and tails, with minor losses to leather in these regions. Armorial bookplates to front pastedowns. Internally, firmly bound. Significant spotting to blanks, with pages otherwise generally clean and bright. Overall Condition: Very Good Indeed GLOSSARY OF TERMS Overall Condition (Dustwrapper condition rating is shown after that for the book itself, where a dustwrapper is present) Fine - Very well preserved copy showing very little wear Very Good Indeed - Only one or two minor faults, really a very attractive copy Very Good - Quite a wide term meaning no major faults but probably several smaller ones often expected given the age of the book, but still a respectable copy Good - Meaning not very good. Some more serious faults as will be described in the condition report under 'condition' Good Only - Meaning one or more faults that could really do with repair Fair - As with good only above but with other faults leaving a compromised copy even after repair Poor - Really bad and possibly seriously incomplete. We only sell books in this condition where their rarity or value makes them attractive none the less. Major defects will be described. GUARANTEE We offer a full money back guarantee on our descriptions. Please ask for details and conditions. We prefer PAYPAL. If you pay via PAYPAL we will post the item off the same or the next working day with the postage you have selected. Please note we cannot accept USD cheques