Five first-edition Jane Austen novels auctioned off at a total of more than £181,000
December 18, 2022 By Alberto Mesti
(Image Credit Google)
A total of more than £181,000 has been paid for the five first-edition Jane Austen books at auction. Additionally, the books were put up for auction at Dominic Winter Auctions in Cirencester, with
Pride and Prejudice selling for the highest price (£92,000).
Furthermore, the daughter of a UK-based private collector who purchased them for roughly £5,000 in the 1970s and 1980s auctioned them off. Chris Albury, the auctioneer, expressed his absolute delight with the outcome.
Moreover, one of perhaps 1,500 copies of
Pride and Prejudice that were printed in 1813 is the copy in question. Additionally, the rarest of the five novels on sale was
Sense and Sensibility, which was first published anonymously in 1811 and of which fewer than 1,000 copies were made. It received the second-highest bid of £62,000. And
Emma, a book published in 1816, received the third-successful bid of £62,000. £12,800
Meanwhile,
Northanger Abbey and
Persuasion went for £6,400, and
Mansfield Park sold for £8,400.
What's more
According to Mr. Albury, no internet bids were successful, and claimed that the books were sold to four different attendees or phone bidders.
He said, "It may be some time before we see as good copies of
Sense and Sensibility and
Pride and Prejudice again so these will live in the memory for a long time."
"The consensus among those who watched and participated was that these were all strong prices," he continued.
According to Mr. Albury, the seller chose to put the books up for auction to "let others get the pleasure from them and use the money for new projects and plans." He added, "She was a great fan of Jane Austen but these were the only rare books she ever bought and they would be brought out every now and then, treated carefully by the family, and then put back in the bookcase."
By Alberto Mesti
Introvert. Eccentric at times. A fashion enthusiast, designer and writer. Lives for the drama, hates being at the centre of it. Can be best described as \'wannabe modern day Lady Whistledown\'.