First collected edition, and the first illustrated English edition. In 1832–33 Richard Bentley bought the copyright of Pride and Prejudice from the executors of Thomas Egerton and that of the remaining novels from Henry and Cassandra Austen. Austen’s novels had not been reissued since 1818 so these printings – published by Bentley in his Standard Novels series – constitute early editions: Sense and Sensibility , third edition (pre- dating the first American by a few months); Pride and Prejudice , fourth edition; Mansfield Park , third edition; Emma , second edition (omitting the dedication to the Prince Regent of the first edition); Northanger Abbey and Persuasion , second edition. These are also the first English editions to be illustrated. The Bentley illustrations, by Ferdinand Pickering, played an integral part in the reception of Austen’s novels; according to one Austen scholar, they “promoted a sense that her novels were best understood as familial, female focused, and sensational. For decades, these illustrations would have served to steer readers away from the conclusion that Austen’s fiction ought to be understood as social, comic, or didactic” (Looser, p. 20). 5 volumes, octavo (163 × 105 mm). Uniformly bound in near- contemporary half calf, twin green morocco spine labels, gilt bands to spines, gilt rules to sides, marbled sides, endpapers, and edges. Engraved vignette titles and frontispieces by William Greatbach after Ferdinand Pickering. Bookplate to front free endpaper verso in each vol. Bound without half- titles and series leaf. Expertly furbished (joints, heads, and tails repaired, tips consolidated, gilt retouched), a little foxing to contents, but overall quite clean. A very nice set. ¶ Gilson D1–5; Sadleir 3735a. Davoney Looser, The Making of Jane Austen , 2017. £15,000 [153013] 7
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8 BAILEY, David. Her Majesty the Queen, 2014. London: Taschen, 2021 Edition of 550, signed in black pen by Bailey on a numbered label attached to the verso. This image was published in celebration of Queen Elizabeth II turning 95 on 21 April 2021. Dye-sublimation print on ChromaLuxe aluminium panel. Sheet size: 100 × 100 cm. In excellent condition, with bracket ready to hang as issued. £3,500 [149332]
AWDRY, Wilbert Vere. James the Red Engine. Leicester: Edmund Ward, [1948] First edition of Awdry’s third book in the Railway Series. Duodecimo. Original blue boards, titles and illustration to front board gilt. With dust jacket. Illustrated by C. Reginald Dalby. Minor staining and creasing to boards, light dampstaining to front free endpaper and title page, dust jacket nicked and creased, white back panel a little marked. Overall very good. £1,750 [149034]
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All items are fully described and photographed at peterharrington.co.uk
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