var min = 16, max = 19;
$('li[id^=item-]').addClass(function ()
{
var i = parseInt(this.id.replace('item-', ''), 10);
if (i >= min && i <= max) return 'the-class';
});
, , , ,
$('#some-ul-id > li[id^=item-]').addClass(...);
, :
$('#some-ul-id > li[id^=item-]').addClass(function (i)
{
if (i >= min && i <= max) return 'the-class';
});
, @matchew , .slice():
$('#some-ul-id > li[id^=item-]').slice(min, max).addClass('the-class');