Offered here from the dougfinds collection of curated fashion, accessories, clothing, collectibles, and unique finds is a remarkable complete six-volume 1922 edition of the novels of Jane Austen, published by J.M. Dent & Sons Ltd. with E.P. Dutton & Co. appearing on the spines, and beautifully illustrated in color by Charles E. Brock.

This is the complete matching six-volume set, containing all six of Austen's completed novels:

• Pride and Prejudice
• Sense and Sensibility
• Emma
• Mansfield Park
• Northanger Abbey
• Persuasion

Published in 1922, these volumes retain their original blue cloth bindings, with blind-stamped decoration to the front boards and gilt spine lettering. The spines have substantially faded with age, creating a striking contrast with the considerably brighter blue cloth remaining on the boards.

And it is when these approximately century-old books are opened that this set truly comes alive.

CHARLES E. BROCK ILLUSTRATIONS

Each volume contains 16 full-page color illustrations by Charles E. Brock, including the frontispiece, for a total of 96 color plates across the six-volume set.

Brock's elegant period illustrations are one of the defining features of this edition, depicting Austen's characters, fashions and interiors in beautifully rendered color.

All called-for Brock illustrations were checked during our inspection and are present.

PUBLISHING & PRINTING DETAILS

Author: Jane Austen
Publisher: J.M. Dent & Sons Ltd.
American Publisher/Imprint: E.P. Dutton & Co.
Year: 1922
Illustrator: Charles E. Brock
Printer: The Temple Press at Letchworth, Great Britain
Volumes: Six
Binding: Original publisher's cloth
Illustrations: 96 full-page color plates — 16 per volume

CONDITION & COMPLETENESS

Please study the photographs carefully, as they form an important part of the condition description.

These books are over 100 years old and show exterior age and wear consistent with that history.

The original blue cloth boards retain attractive color, while the spines show pronounced fading/sunning to a brown/green tone, along with age-related wear and fading/dulling of the gilt lettering. Additional exterior rubbing, marks, edge/corner wear and other evidence of age and use are present as photographed.

The interiors present remarkably well in comparison with the exteriors.

All six volumes were carefully reviewed for listing purposes. Each volume terminates at its expected final numbered page, and all called-for Charles E. Brock color illustrations were checked and are present.

During this review we observed no crumbling pages, significant dog-earing, children's crayon/marker writing, or obvious material page loss.

To minimize unnecessary handling of these approximately century-old books, however, every individual page was not examined line-by-line or page-by-page for every possible minor mark, spot, small tear or other age-related imperfection. The set is therefore being represented according to our careful visual review rather than as formally bibliographically collated.

Age-related toning and occasional spotting/foxing or minor marks may be present.

Two pencil notations were specifically observed and photographed:

• In Emma, a small handwritten pencil notation reading “p 142” appears beneath one illustration.
• In Northanger Abbey, an early ownership-style pencil inscription appears to read “Thomas P. Ayre 1925.”

The identity of the individual named in the inscription has not been established, and no provenance is claimed.

Please refer closely to all photographs for exterior wear, binding condition, page condition, illustrations and the two noted pencil inscriptions.

A BEAUTIFUL SURVIVING SET

Complete matching sets of Austen's six novels from this period have an undeniable shelf presence, but the particular appeal here is the contrast between the visibly aged original bindings and the beautifully preserved typography and vivid Brock color illustrations waiting inside.

This is an exceptional opportunity for the Jane Austen collector, Charles E. Brock collector, antiquarian book enthusiast, or collector of illustrated English literature to acquire the complete six-volume 1922 set together rather than assembling the novels individually.

All six volumes are being offered together as one complete set and will not be separated.

Please review all photographs carefully, as they are considered part of the description and provide the best representation of this item's condition.

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