1923 The Watsons by Jane Austen / In Lovely Condition / An Extremely Early Copy of Her Unfinished Novel / First Time In Print On It's Own

In good condition here is a lovely antique edition of Jane Austen's The Watsons in marbled green and pink. This is the best condition copy of this edition that I have come across to date. This is 102 years old, but has very little signs of age - just some very light wear to the boards (detailed below), plus some fading of the titles on the spine. Published in 1923 by Leonard Parsons, London. Opens with a full introduction by AB Walkley and has a portrait frontispiece of Austen with original tissue guard.

The Watsons is an unfinished novel of five chapters, often known as a fragment of a novel. Austen began writing it around 1803 and abandoned it after her father's death in January 1805. However, it was not published until 1871, as part of James Edward Austen-Leigh's Memoir. Jane Austen had left the manuscript untitled, "The Watsons" was provided by Austen-Leigh.

There is a publishers' note at the beginning of this volume stating:

"In 1871 Jane Austen's nephew James Edward Austen-Leigh published the second edition of the Memoirs of Jane Austen, which contained The Watsons. The Memoir is now out of print and difficult to obtain. For this reason the present publishers reprint this little masterpiece separately in book form for the first time".

Inside the pages are bright, clean and tightly bound with no signs of wear at all. Has a small, neatly-inked name opposite the half-title page, but no other writing or markings of previous ownership. The frontispiece portrait has the original tissue-guard in place which has mildly tanned. The top closed edge is tinted green.

Has delightful green and pink marble papered boards and with an olive-green cloth spine. Has just a couple of light scuffs to the cloth, but minor. Plus some light bumping around the outside edges. The gilt titles on the spine have faded and are now hard to discern.

An attractive and scarce volume for the Jane Austen fan wanting something further to read. Your vintage copy of The Watsons will be wrapped with care in tissue and ribbon* and sent well packaged. I am always happy to include a gift card and message if desired. 

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H 18.5 cm x W 13.5 cm, 99 pages, 0.24 kg. I dispatch worldwide daily from the UK. With the exception of a small number of countries.

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