Northanger Abbey: and Persuasion.

Austen's final two published works

The first appearance in print of Jane Austen's first and last works, complete with all four half-titles. Written in 1797-98 and 1815-16 respectively, they were published shortly after her death by John Murray (Byron's publisher) along with a biographical note by her brother, Henry Austen, that introduced her to the public for the first time.

Sold by Henry to a London bookseller for the princely sum of £10 in 1803, Northanger Abbey (then titled Susan) initially never saw the light of day. After he bought back the manuscript thirteen years later, Jane reworked the novel, though died shortly after. Her brother eventually had it published under its new name alongside Persuasion, her last and arguably most refined work.

First edition; 4 vols, 12mo (180 x 110 mm, 7 x 4¼ in); half-titles as issued, publisher's two terminal blanks to vol. IV, early ownership inscriptions in ink to titles, later embossed library stamps to preliminary blanks, title page of vol. I starting a8t foot of gutter, vol. II with a very small closed tear to the upper edge of B2, occasional spotting throughout as usual; later full olive calf, spines uniformly toned to brown, gilt-tooled in six compartments, contrasting red lettering pieces gilt, gilt-stamped fleurons to board corners, triple fillet border ruled in blind, decorative edges and turn ins in blind, lightly scuffed and marked, a very good set; vol. 1: xxiv, 300; vol. 2: [4], 331, [1, blank]; [4], 280; [4], 308, [4, blank] pp.

Gilson A9; Keynes 9.