Yes and No: A Tale of the Day.

London: Henry Colburn,, 1828. First edition of this scarce romantic novel, association copy, attractively bound for George Agar-Ellis, first Baron Dover, who campaigned alongside the author for Catholic relief in Ireland as a fellow Whig MP. The publisher Henry Colburn issued many such "silver fork" novels, which provided a portrait of high society to a largely middle-class readership. Agar-Ellis (1797-1833) was a passionate supporter of liberal ideas and a noted patron of the arts. His edition of the Letters of Horace Walpole... to Sir Horace Mann (1833) was reviewed by Thomas Babington Macaulay as "the last of the useful and modest services rendered to literature by a nobleman of amiable manners, of untarnished public and private character, and of cultivated mind" (Edinburgh Review, vol. 58, p. 227). Constantine Phipps (1797-1863) served in the positions of Home Secretary, ambassador to France, and Lord Lieutenant of Ireland. Upon arriving to Dublin in 1835, he "was welcomed by Roman Catholics. O'Connell declared that he was the best Englishman that Ireland had ever seen. [Phipps] liberated prisoners, discouraged the most offensive demonstrations of Orange bigotry, and controversially entertained O'Connell at Dublin Castle. Initially his social qualities captivated the Roman Catholic party, but Ireland could not be permanently disarmed by his smiles nor could he indefinitely sustain the cost of his charm offensive" (ODNB). "The majority of silver fork novels were published by Henry Colburn (d.1855), who was adept at blurring the boundaries between scandalous memoirs and fiction in ways that made an author's private life and social position commodities which could be turned for profit" (Oxford Reference). Two volumes, octavo (188 x 157 mm). Contemporary green calf, red spine labels, compartments ruled and tooled in gilt with central devices, gilt and blind rules bordering sides and enclosing supralibros of George Agar-Ellis, first Baron Dover, board edges and turn-ins tooled in gilt, marbled endpapers and edges, red silk bookmarkers. Bound without half-titles and rear adverts; vol. II bookmarker detached and loosely inserted. Spines sunned, a little rubbing, light marks to covers, short closed tear to fore margins of vol. I pp. 179-87 with repairs, occasional browning and foxing, largely clean. A very good copy. Block, p. 174; NCBEL, III, p. 756; Sadleir 1834; Wolff 5550.