Pride and Prejudice. Illustrated by Lex De Renault. London: Collins’ Cleat Type Press, [1920]. Handsomely bound in half calf over marbled boards with raised bands, gilt devices & red leather label to spine. Housed in a cloth slipcase. A fine bright copy.

The Illustrations by the French illustrator Lex De Renault, adds a distinctive visual charm to Austen’s classic.

Jane Austen wrote Pride and Prejudice (originally titled First Impressions) between October 1796 and August 1797 when she was not yet twenty-one — the same age, in fact, as her fictional heroine Elizabeth Bennet. After an early rejection by the publisher Cadell who had not even read it, Austen’s novel was finally bought by Egerton in 1812 for £110. It was published in late January 1813 in a small edition of approximately 1500 copies and sold for 18 shillings in boards.

A nice gift edition.