Set of antique books

Category: Books and Manuscripts
Titles Included:

• Wuthering Heights (Vol. 1 & 2)
• Jane Eyre (Vol. 1 & 2)
• Shirley (Vol. 1 & 2)
• Villette (Vol. 1 & 2)
• The Professor
• The Tenant of Wildfell Hall (Vol. 1 & 2)
• Agnes Grey
• The Brontës: Poems

Publisher: J. M. Dent & Co., London
Imprint Year: MCMI (1901)
Binding: Limp suede leather bindings, gold-stamped spine, and covers with decorative border and monogram ("B")
Size: Approx. 4" x 6"
Condition: Fair (spines worn, some detached or cracked; pages generally intact)

Description & Historical Context

This is a matching set from the 1901 J.M. Dent & Co. Brontë collection, published in London as part of their elegant turn-of-the-century classics reprints. These pocket-sized editions were intended to be both collectible and readable, typically bound in suede leather or limp vellum with decorative embossing.

Although your listing initially estimated the date as "mid-1800s", the books are definitively from 1901, as shown in the Roman numeral date and publisher’s colophon.

This set is notable for:

• Its complete representation of the major Brontë works, including poetry.
• Publisher: J.M. Dent, also known for founding the Everyman’s Library, was a key figure in early 20th-century fine press publishing.
• Original bindings with gold tooling and ribbon markers, although many volumes show wear, spine loss, and potential re-backing needs.

Market & Collector Value (as of June 2025)

The market for antique literary sets, especially Brontë sisters collections, remains stable, with highest prices fetched by:

• Sets in very good to fine condition
• First editions (1840s–1850s)
• Limited or signed runs from private presses

Your set, while not rare in publication, is desirable due to age, completeness, and decorative binding, despite its fair condition.

• Retail/Auction Estimate (Full Set, Fair Condition): $150 – $250 USD
• Individual Volume (Damaged): $10 – $25 USD
• Replacement/Insurance Value (Full Set): $350 USD (due to completeness)

If in very good condition, this same set could fetch $400–$600+.

Collector Tips & Recommendations

• Preservation Tip: Store flat, away from light and humidity. Consider custom archival boxes if the suede continues to flake or detach.
• Repair Advice: Consult a professional bookbinder for conservation if you wish to restore the spines without reducing authenticity.
• Selling Advice: Better sold as a full set for decorative or collector value than individually.

Conclusion

You own a handsome and historically significant early 20th-century set of Brontë works, published by a respected fine press. While not a first edition or limited run, it retains strong literary and collectible appeal. Its current fair condition impacts the value somewhat, but its completeness and publisher make it a highly display-worthy literary collectible.