This rare and pretty edition of Northanger Abbey and Persuasion by Jane Austen was published by George Routledge and Sons. The book itself isn't dated but there is a name written inside dated 1901. From my research, I've discovered that George Routledge and Sons brought out the complete range of Austen novels in this binding during 1898 and 1899. So the book is from the very end of the Victorian era. The binding is very art nouveau in style and very striking.
The book is bound in teal cloth with blind stamped decoration and gilt to the front board and spine. It's a binding that deserves to be viewed up close and is in very good condition for it's age. There is light wear to the corners and the bottom corner of the back board is quite badly bumped. There is a tiny mark to the back board and the spine is faintly sunned, with some dulling to the gilt on the spine. The spine edges are rubbed and crushing to the spine ends has caused very minor splitting in the cloth.
Inside there is a name written on the front free endpaper and a crossed out pencil price. The endpapers are tanned but the rest of the pages show only light age toning, with occasional minor marking and foxing. Some of the page edges are a bit rough and jagged - the edge of pages 318 and 320 show wear and tear where a previous owner must have tried to separate the pages by hand. The text remains clear and bright. There is a superficial crack to the gutter between pages 96 and 97 but the pages remain tightly bound.
The book will arrive gift wrapped in patterned wallpaper and ribbon.
I use a range of eco friendly, 100% recyclable jiffy bags and boxes, and whenever possible I use brown paper tape. The green bubble wrap is oxo-degradable and the clear bubble wrap is 100% recyclable. I also reuse boxes when I feel it's appropriate (if the boxes are sturdy enough).