Austen, Jane

4 volumes, 12mo, FIRST EDITION, half-titles, full calf by Riviere & Son, spine gilt in compartments, gilt dentelles, all edges gilt, some spotting and browning, lacking final blanks at end of vol. 4

Garside and Schöwerling 1818:19; Gilson A9; Keynes 9; Sadleir 62e

Condition is described in the main body of the cataloguing, where appropriate.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

Austen's final two novels were published posthumously in 1818, and prefaced by a 'Biographical Notice of the Author' written by her brother Henry. 

However, Northanger Abbey had actually been drafted fifteen years earlier with the working title 'Susan',  which was only abandoned when another novel with of the same name appeared in 1809. Austen's manuscript had been sold to publisher Richard Crosby, but for some reason remained unpublished, and it was only after the publication of Emma that Henry arranged to buy it back. It is assumed that Austen wrote the statement which precedes the text shortly after this, in which she observes, "That any bookseller should think it worth while to purchase what he did not think it worth while to publish seems extraordinary."

It was finally brought out after Austen's death in July 1817 alongside Persuasion, which was completed by Austen over the summer of 1816, shortly before she was forced to stop writing due to ill health.

Keynes notes that "a half-title is to be found in each volume between the preliminary leaves and the first page of the text." However, as in this copy, "sometimes the binder has folded this back so that it comes before the title-page instead of the text."