Rare Australian Edition - Charles O'Malley, The Irish Dragoon. Harry Lorrequer (Charles James Lever)
Printed and published by William Baker, Hibernian Press Sydney 1843. Two volumes bound together. 499pp. total. Title page states illustrations by 'Phiz' (Hablot Knight Browne) but all except one engraving are after 'Phiz', mostly re-engraved locally by Baker. There is one unique engraving, 'Sir Harry Boyle singing "Great Rogue All" engraved by Baker after artist 'WN' (likely colonial artist William Michael Nicholas who's portrait of Baker is held at the National Gallery)
This book has a few variations from this popular work originally published in parts (Dublin University Magazine) then in book form by William Curry, Jun and Company, Dublin 1841.
Baker's Sydney edition has the Volume 2 frontispiece (O'Malley meets Napoleon) as frontispiece, with 'Sydney' under the vignette, for both volumes.
Also, there are 15 less plates (per Bakers list) than the Dublin edition (plus the addition of the unique plate). One plate listed in Volume 2 is inserted in Volume 1. Although there are identical frontispieces, Volume 2 lists it with a different name. Plate lists have a couple of incorrect 'facing page' numbers. Text/plate collation appears a little haphazard. Is this a non-sanctioned edition?
Grey cloth boards are aged with marks, bumped corners, tatty spine ends, hinge split internally with owner's name to free endpaper. Text is toned and stained, rag paper frontispieces are very foxed, Volume 2 fp. loose, otherwise binding is holding. Endpapers excised.
NLA (ID 2729065) of this edition appears to contain the earlier Irish Volume 1, therefore does not have the unique local Baker engraving. (23x18cm)

Estimate $900-1,800