1907-1909 The Novels of Jane Austen: Sense and Sensibility, Pride and Prejudice, Mansfield Park, Emma, Persuasion, Northanger Abbey. [The Series of English Idylls]. [6 Volumes].

First edition thus. A highly sought-after edition of Jane Austen's novels, published by J. M. Dent & Co as part of their English Idylls series. Usually found in beige cloth, this set was bound into leather by Bumpus of Oxford, a celebrated bookselling firm established in the late 18th Century. The edition is prized for its colour plates, of which there are more than 20 in each volume, all illustrated by legendary English painter C. E. Brock.

In very good condition with sunned spines and occasional spine markings, generally clean boards, firmly bound with neat, square corners. All plates present and complete. Persuasion has a single small mark on spine, occasional pencil underlining and annotations, light foxing towards rear. Sense and Sensibility has light foxing towards rear, two small marks to spine, rubbing to front board. Pride and Prejudice is internally clean, a little more sunned to the upper front board than other volumes. Emma has light foxing, two small marks to the spine. Northanger Abbey has light markings to the spine, very lightly rubbed on rear board. Very sparse pencil underlining. Light foxing in places. Mansfield Park is generally clean, two marks to the spine.

Half-bound in Bumpus' Navy calf, the spines sunned to olive green, alongside cobalt boards. Further decorated with 5 spine bands and gilt titles, marbled endpapers and a gilt top edge to each volume. 18.5 x 11.5 cm. Pp. [iv], viii, 308; [vi], xiv, 336; [iv], viii, 396; [iv], viii, 395; [vi], x, 206; [iv], viii, 216.