Works of Captain Marryatt in ten volumes de Marryatt [Marryat], Frederick - 1861

New York: H. W. Derby, 1861. Hardcover. Good/No Jacket. Frank Mildmay; or, The Naval Officer Jacob Faithful; or, The Adventures of a Waterman The King's Own Mr. Midshipman Easy Newton Forster; or, The Merchant Service The Pacha of Many Tales Percival Keene Peter Simple The Phantom Ship Snarlyyow; or, The Dog Fiend All volumes are uniformly three quarter bound in brown calf over marbled paper, five raised bands on spine with brown and red title labels and small decorative devices, marbled edges and endpapers, 7 1/2 x 5 inches, each volume has a different tissue-guarded engraved frontis illustration. The books range in condition, some with only light wear while others show heavier wear, leather is scuffed and worn at edges, boards are rubbed and worn, one volume has a tape removal injury to rear edge, most have unbroken internal hinges but a couple are starting to crack and Peter Simple is separated at the rear hinge, a couple have previous owner's names written in front endpaper and one has a little portrait drawn in pencil, Naval Officer has one badly torn page, otherwise all volumes are generally clean and unmarked except for occasional age spots or foxing, bindings on many are tender but all are intact. Before C. S. Forester and Patrick O'Brian there was Captain Frederick Marryatt. He was a member of the Royal Navy, and a friend of Charles Dickens. Marryatt pioneered the genre we know today as nautical fiction, basing much of his writing on his life in the navy. In addition to writing of life at sea, his novels were also concerned with family struggles and society. Counted among his fans were Mark Twain and Joseph Conrad. Even with its flaws, this is a beautiful set. Collected works of Marryatt have become difficult to find, especially in such lovely bindings. The books are quite striking together on a shelf. Large heavy set will require additional postage.