{"product_id":"charles-knight-half-hours-with-best-authors-1890-2-vol-set-victorian-antique","title":"Charles Knight Half Hours With Best Authors 1890 2 Vol Set Victorian Antique","description":"\u003cp\u003eKey Details\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cp\u003eTitle: Half Hours with the Best Authors\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eEditor: Charles Knight (1791–1873)\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003ePublisher: Frederick Warne and Co.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003ePlace of Publication: London and New York\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eYear: 1890\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eEdition: A New Edition\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eFormat: Two-volume hardcover set\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eBinding: Grey\/olive cloth with gilt spine lettering\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eLanguage: English\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eGenre: Literature \/ Anthology \/ Poetry \u0026amp; Prose\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003ePeriod: Victorian\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003ePrinted by: Bradbury, Agnew \u0026amp; Co., Whitefriars, London\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eSet: Two volumes offered together\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe 1890 Frederick Warne edition is independently recorded in library catalogues, confirming the publication details shown on these title pages. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cp\u003e⸻\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cp\u003eMini Story or Hook\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cp\u003eA wonderfully evocative piece of late-Victorian literary culture, Half Hours with the Best Authors was edited by influential British publisher and writer Charles Knight as an accessible treasury of great literature — selections designed to provide worthwhile reading in manageable “half-hour” sittings.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cp\u003eAcross these two substantial volumes is an extraordinary roll-call of literature and thought, with selections from writers including Jane Austen, Charles Dickens, William Shakespeare, John Milton, William Wordsworth, Lord Byron, Goethe, Dante, Jonathan Swift, Daniel Defoe, Samuel Johnson, Benjamin Franklin, Cervantes, Coleridge, Thackeray, Keats, Plato, Pepys and many others.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe introductory advertisement explains the concept particularly well: the collection was intended to provide readers with selections from approximately 150 writers, combining prose, poetry, essays, stories, historical writing and other literary extracts.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cp\u003ePublished by Frederick Warne \u0026amp; Co. in 1890, these are genuine Victorian books more than 130 years old and make an attractive matching pair for a library, study or period interior.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cp\u003e⸻\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cp\u003eCondition\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cp\u003eCondition: Good antique condition – see detailed notes and photographs.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cp\u003eThese are genuine Victorian books dating from 1890 and consequently display age-related wear consistent with books now approximately 136 years old.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cp\u003e* Original grey\/olive cloth bindings remain present with gilt spine titles.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e* Cloth shows age-related fading, marking, rubbing and general shelf wear.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e* Spine ends and corners show wear and some softening.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e* Both volumes remain attractive together as a matching set.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e* Internal pages show expected age toning, scattered foxing and spotting.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e* Endpapers show foxing\/discolouration, particularly evident in the photographs.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e* Contents remain readily legible.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e* Bindings appear serviceable for their age based on inspection.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e* No dust jackets, as expected for books of this type and period.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e* Both title pages clearly state Frederick Warne and Co., London and New York, 1890.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e* Offered as the two-volume set shown.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe photographs form an important part of the condition description and show the actual books being offered.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cp\u003e📸 The photos form part of the description – please examine them closely.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cp\u003e⸻\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cp\u003eWhy This Set is Interesting\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cp\u003eThis is more than simply a pair of decorative Victorian books. Knight’s anthology represents the 19th-century movement to make important literature accessible to a much wider reading public.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe contents span centuries and genres, bringing together major figures of English and European literature, history, philosophy and poetry. Contemporary editions of Half Hours with the Best Authors remain collected today, with surviving 1890 Frederick Warne editions appearing in both institutional collections and the antiquarian book market. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe understated original cloth bindings and gilt lettering give this pair particularly good Victorian library\/display appeal.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cp\u003e⸻\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cp\u003ePostage \u0026amp; Handling\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cp\u003e📦 All items are carefully wrapped and packaged to ensure they arrive safely at their new forever home.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cp\u003eCombined postage available – contact us before purchasing for a revised invoice.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eInternational shipping available on request – please message for a quote.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cp\u003e⸻\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cp\u003eNeed to Know More?\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cp\u003eHave questions or need more photos? We’re happy to help! Just message us and we’ll get back to you promptly.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cp\u003e⸻\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cp\u003eOther Info\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cp\u003e🛍️ Check out our other items — we specialise in first and early edition books and are more than happy to bundle books to save on postage.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cp\u003e📲 Follow us @vintagehqcomau on socials and on eBay for more nostalgic finds and stories behind these unique or rare pieces.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Vintage HQ","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":67643271512293,"sku":"EB-147625147628","price":150.0,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0723\/1255\/3701\/files\/57_c8142e53-32ac-4698-a6c3-f12179af4d05.jpg?v=1791546850","url":"https:\/\/vintagehq.com.au\/products\/charles-knight-half-hours-with-best-authors-1890-2-vol-set-victorian-antique","provider":"Vintage HQ","version":"1.0","type":"link"}