[Printed work of sensational popular fiction.] The Mysterious Avenger; or, The Trials of Love. [Followed by a reprinting of De Quincey's translation of 'Der Freischütz', under the title 'William, the Fatal Marksman; or, The Seven Charmed Bullets'.]

256pp., 12mo. With frontispiece engraving and vignette on title. In original brown cloth binding, with blind-stamped decorative pattern on the boards, and title and design on the spine. Ownership inscription of 'Arthur Baxter | Runcorn | 1861' on piece of paper laid down on front pastedown. A tight copy, on stained paper (particularly the last few leaves) and aged paper, in worn binding with gilt almost dulled. An interesting production, reminiscent of previous Minerva Press publications, and looking ahead to the yellow-back. The claim on the title-page that the book is 'Published by the Booksellers' in London may well be a sales ploy, as the item is scarcer than one would expect had it been published in London: the only copy traced on COPAC or OCLC WorldCat at the Bodleian in Oxford. Not in Woolf. Walker was certainly enterprising: BBTI has him active in Otley between 1809 and 1855, as 'Auctioneer, Librarian/owner of circulating library, Bookbinder, Publisher, Stereotyper/stereotype founder, Bookseller, Stationer, Printer'.