This stunning two volume edition of Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen was published by JM Dent and Co in 1898. It's bound in contemporary half leather over marbled paper boards. Top edges gilt. The spines feature five raised bands and gilt tooling. It's interesting to note the gilt stag at the top of the spine, because a stag was a symbol in the Austen Family's coat of arms. This is not a coincidence - the stag is sat on a gold crown, just like it is on Austen's coat of arms. Whoever bound the books did this as a nod to Jane Austen - sadly there is no binder's stamp inside.
The books are in good plus condition, but there is sunning to the spines, with minor loss to the surface of the leather around the spine edges and ends. There is rubbing and scuffing to the boards, whilst the board edges and corners are show wear, with minor loss to the surface of the paper and leather.
Inside, the pages show age toning and occasional foxing. Both volumes have a penned name to one of the preliminary blank pages. One volume has six colour plates and the other has seven colour plates. Collated and complete, each plate has it's own tissue guard. Charles Brock was the first colour illustrator of Austen's work, and his illustrations are widely acknowledged as the most iconic.
Dimensions approximately17.5cm x 11.5cm x 2.7cm.
This scarce edition of Mansfield Park by Jane Austen was published by J.M.Dent and Co in 1902. So the books are from the early Edwardian era. Each book is uniformly bound in cream cloth with a green tinge and features a delicate regency lady with a basket of flowers on the front cover. This was said to be based on Jane Austen herself. The lady is surrounded by embossed floral detail and scrollwork.
***Please note that one colour plate is sadly missing***
Externally, the books are in very good condition but the front boards show some rubbing to the decoration and the boards show light marking and discolouration. The corners are lightly worn with bumping to the top corners. The spines are sunned and darkened, with some minor marking.
Inside, the pages show age toning and foxing throughout, with some small tears to the page edges in places. There are cracks to the gutter at the title page and occasionally in places throughout the book. Sadly the final colour plate in volume two is missing.
The colour plates by C.E.Brock are incredibly charming - Charles was perhaps the most famous illustrator of Austen's work. His style really captures the charm and humour of Austen's writing. The pages are rough cut which is a wonderful feature in old books and really adds to the antique feel of the books.
Dimensions of each volume approximately 17.8cm x 12cm x 2.3cm.
The books will arrive hand 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).