The Novels of Jane Austen. Bound into Three Volumes. The Novel Library. London; Hamish Hamilton.
A really beautifully bound set of the works of Jane Austen, the usual six volumes here bound into three. Very finely bound indeed, though without any binders stamp/signature, the bindings resemble those by Zaehnsdorf in quality.
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Contains: Pride and Prejudice; Sense and Sensibility; Mansfield Park; Emma; Persuasion; and Northanger Abbey.
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The Novel Library was Hamish Hamilton's attempt to promote important works of fiction. The series was published during the mid-20th century, with this particular set being first published in 1949, this being the first edition of it. They aimed to make both classic and contemporary novels accessible by making them affordable. The novels selected were deemed by Hamish Hamilton to be of literary importance and significance, either through being critically acclaimed, or by the works being engaging and captivating. They made sure to include a vast range of authors from different genres, countries, and literary traditions. Some of the selected authors include Jane Austen, George Orwell, Albert Camus, Graham Greene, F. Scott Fitzgerald, Jean-Paul Sartre, D. H. Laurence, Leo Tolstoy, Charlotte Bronte, Virginia Woolf, Franz Kafka, Thomas Hardy, etc.
Size: 170 x 110 mm (approx., each)
Condition:
Spines with very minor rubbing on extremities, and some marks / discolouration. Gilt on spines is bright. All boards securely attached with minor wear to joints and hinges. Front joint of Persuasion volume starting at the top with some loss to the leather at the head. Boards with extremely minor scuffing, sporadic very minor marks, and very minor warping. More prominent marks on the front board of Persuasion. The head of the front board of Pride and Prejudice sunned. Shelf and edge wear. Minor rubbing to corners. Small fragment of the top rear board edge of Pride and Prejudice torn and peeling off (see page edge photo). Very minor scratches to the top gilt page edge. Pages edges lightly toned. Endpapers lightly toned at extremities as commensurate with the bindings. Text blocks extremely clean with light toning. Uncollated but appears complete.
