Available Copies from Independent Booksellers
Price: US$875.00 + shipping
Condition: Good
Description: This is a volume of the publication "The Quarterly Review" that contains a rare, early (possibly the first) book review of the classic horror tale "FRANKENSTEIN or The Modern Prometheus" by Mary Shelley. 1818; John Murray; London. Volume XVIII comprised of the October, 1817 and January, 1818 issues. This review was published in January, 1818 - the same month as the January, 1818 first publication of Frankenstein. The book title is also listed within the table of contents at the front of the January issue, and in the Index at the back of the volume. The rather scathing review spans seven pages and was written by John Wilson Croker - he writes "Our readers will guess from this summary, what a tissue of horrible and disgusting absurdity this work presents" and ponders "whether the head or the heart of the author be the most diseased." The "New Publications" section within the October issue contains a notice for new JANE AUSTEN works: "Northanger Abbey, a Romance; and Persuasion, a Novel. By the Author of Pride and Prejudice, Mansfield Park, &c. with a Biographical Notice of the Author." (Note: This volume contains two separate issues - October 1817 No. XXXV, and January 1818 No. XXXVI.however, the title page at the beginning of the volume curiously states "May" 1818, and not "January" 1818.) Condition: There are splits at the corners of the spine (though both covers are firmly attached). The corners of the back cover are worn. Tight binding with no loose pages. Nice interior - the pages are mostly clean with only some mild foxing to the first 10 or so and the last 10 or so pages; pages 65-71 have a small, light stain at the top edge. Old bookplate affixed to the front pastedown. Overall the book is in Good condition.
Seller: CraigsClassics, Hudson, NH, U.S.A.
Price: US$13992.25 + shipping
Description: FIRST EDITION, half-titles (between the preliminary leaves and first page of text in each volume, as issued), lacking final blanks in vol. IV, sporadic foxing, particularly to the final gathering of vol. I, pp. xxiv, 300; [iv], 331, [i]; [iv], 280; [iv], 308; 12mo, modern tan calf, gilt spines with raised bands and morocco labels, very good. Northanger Abbey, the first of Austen's novels to be written, but which languished at Crosbie and Co. for 13 years before being bought back in 1816, published posthumously here with her final novel, Persuasion. According to Keynes the number of copies printed of these sets probably exceeded 2000 copies, but from Murray's ledgers Gilson establishes that the print run was 1750, 1409 of which were sold before the end of the year. (Gilson A9; Keynes 9; Sadleir 62e)
Seller: Blackwell's Rare Books ABA ILAB BA, Oxford, United Kingdom
Price: US$35000.00 + shipping
Condition: Fine
Description: First Editions, First Printings. A wonderful set with matching bindings bound in 19th Century 1/2 tan calf and matching marbled boards with minor repair. All four books are in beautiful shape and have the important half titles and full title pages present in each book. The bindings are tight with NO cocking or leaning with minor wear to the edges. The pages are clean with some foxing and minor wear. There is NO writing or marks in the books. The provenance of the books are from the library of Sir William Middleton Bart with his armorial bookplate to front pastedown of each. Volumes I and II printed by C. Roworth, Volumes III and IV by T. Davison. The two novels, Austen's first sold and last written, were finally published in this tandem edition in December 1817, five months after her death, and represents her sole four-volume publication. Gilson A9; Sadleir 62e. A superb (4) volume set preserved in a custom clamshell box. We buy Jane Austen First Editions.
Seller: Magnum Opus Rare Books, Missoula, MT, U.S.A.