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Books · 20th century
The Novels of Jane Austen
Illustrated. Rivière & Son binding for Brentano's of Fifth Avenue, New York
TitleThe Novels of Jane Austen in 10 volumesAuthorJane AustenPrinter / PublisherGeorge HarrapPlace of PublicationLondonEditionIllustratedFormatOctavoBindingExtra-gilt tree calf by RivièreFeaturesNumerous full-page colour illustrations by A. W. Mills.Date1925DimensionsEach volume 7½ × 4⅞ inchesConditionOverall very good condition, occasional light scuffs to boards. Volume I has moderate wear to headcap, small chip in leather of first compartment, front joints slightly worn. Light rubbing to gilt centrepiece in first compartment of Volume IV. Bottommost raised band of Volumes II and VIII slightly rubbed. Tiny chip in leather to headcap of Volume IX. Otherwise an excellent set in an exquisite and elegant one-of-a-kind Rivière binding of the highest quality.
A magnificently bound set of Austen’s novels from the great Rivière bindery, specially commissioned for the luxury dealer Brentano’s of 5th Avenue in New York. Full polished tree calf, front and rear boards with gilt arabesque roll borders, spines extra gilt with raised bands in six compartments with floral centrepieces surrounded by dense foliate tooling, gilt-stamped red morocco title labels in second compartments, brown morocco labels in third, board edges elaborately gilt-tooled, large gilt inner dentelles, all edges gilt, marbled end-papers.
The Harrap edition of 1925 — a reissue of the 10 volume Chatto & Windus edition of 1908 — is itself uncommon, and few Austen bindings of the period can rival the opulence of that offered here.
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