Description

Austen (Jane) Novels, 6 vol. in 5, first collected edition, engraved frontispiece to each vol. but lacking half-titles and additional engraved vignette titles, vol.1 with presentation inscription from F.C. Knatchbull to her daughter Louisa dated 1856 (in Louisa's hand) and remaining vol. with ownership signature of Louisa to front free endpaper, contemporary half calf, spines gilt with double morocco labels (3 lacking, a few chipped), rubbed, 8vo, Richard Bentley, 1833.

A lovely association copy, once owned by Jane Austen's favourite niece.

Fanny Catherine Knight was Jane Austen's niece, the oldest child of Jane's brother Edward Austen (later Knight). Jane adored her and considered her "almost another Sister". Edward's wife died when Fanny was only 15 so her aunts Jane and Cassandra Austen took on an intimate and motherly role in the lives of Edward's children. In a letter dated 1808 Jane wrote "I am greatly pleased with your account of Fanny; I found her in the summer just what you describe, almost another Sister, & could not have supposed that a niece would ever have been so much to me. She is quite after one's own heart...tell her that I always think of her with pleasure."

Fanny was Sir Edward Knatchbull's second wife and their children took the additional Hugessen name. This set of books would appear to have been given by Fanny to her own daughter Louisa around her 21st birthday (she was born in 1834). There are three pencil annotations to the opening "Memoir" of Jane Austen in volume 1, probably in Louisa's hand but two of which are presumably quoting her mother's own thoughts: beneath the text "her carriage and deportment were quiet, but graceful" is written " 'the sort of thing they call graceful I call awkward' Mama"; and in the margin next to the text "If there be an opinion current in the world that a perfectly amiable temper is not reconcilable to a lively imagination, and a keen relish for wit, such an opinion will be rejected for ever by those who had the happiness of knowing the authoress of the following work." is written "'True' Mama".

For Jane Austen see also lots 305, 315 and 319

Description

Austen (Jane) Novels, 6 vol. in 5, first collected edition, engraved frontispiece to each vol. but lacking half-titles and additional engraved vignette titles, vol.1 with presentation inscription from F.C. Knatchbull to her daughter Louisa dated 1856 (in Louisa's hand) and remaining vol. with ownership signature of Louisa to front free endpaper, contemporary half calf, spines gilt with double morocco labels (3 lacking, a few chipped), rubbed, 8vo, Richard Bentley, 1833.

A lovely association copy, once owned by Jane Austen's favourite niece.

Fanny Catherine Knight was Jane Austen's niece, the oldest child of Jane's brother Edward Austen (later Knight). Jane adored her and considered her "almost another Sister". Edward's wife died when Fanny was only 15 so her aunts Jane and Cassandra Austen took on an intimate and motherly role in the lives of Edward's children. In a letter dated 1808 Jane wrote "I am greatly pleased with your account of Fanny; I found her in the summer just what you describe, almost another Sister, & could not have supposed that a niece would ever have been so much to me. She is quite after one's own heart...tell her that I always think of her with pleasure."

Fanny was Sir Edward Knatchbull's second wife and their children took the additional Hugessen name. This set of books would appear to have been given by Fanny to her own daughter Louisa around her 21st birthday (she was born in 1834). There are three pencil annotations to the opening "Memoir" of Jane Austen in volume 1, probably in Louisa's hand but two of which are presumably quoting her mother's own thoughts: beneath the text "her carriage and deportment were quiet, but graceful" is written " 'the sort of thing they call graceful I call awkward' Mama"; and in the margin next to the text "If there be an opinion current in the world that a perfectly amiable temper is not reconcilable to a lively imagination, and a keen relish for wit, such an opinion will be rejected for ever by those who had the happiness of knowing the authoress of the following work." is written "'True' Mama".

For Jane Austen see also lots 305, 315 and 319

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