Period dramas are having something of a renaissance of late; from the cult-like following garnered by The Crown, to the recent success of Armando Iannucci’s take on David Copperfield, to Autumn de Wilde’s stylish Emma adaptation, which hit cinema screens this month. And de Wilde is clearly on to something – over 200 years after Jane Austen’s death, the author’s fans remain just as devoted. So much so, in fact, that a collection of Austen First Editions just sold for over $240,000 at auction.
Six of Austen’s most renowned novels were up for sale at Swann Auction Galleries in New York, as part of their Fine Books & Manuscripts auction on 20 February. The copies in question were rare First Editions – coveted items among bibliophiles. Sold separately rather than as a complete set, the combined total exceeded initial estimates by a staggering four times over.
The copy of 1813’s Pride and Prejudice, perhaps Austen’s most famous work, attracted the highest sale price of $100,000. This was followed by the rarest book of the group, 1811’s Sense and Sensibility, which is thought to be one of only around 1,000 First Editions produced. The copy sold for $81,250.
Emma, from 1816, which has seen something of a resurgence in interest in light of the new adaptation, sold for $27,500. It is of particular note to book collectors as the only Austen novel that bears a dedication – to the then Prince Regent, the future King George IV. Next in the list of highest sale prices was 1814’s Mansfield Park ($20,000), followed by Northanger Abbey and Persuasion, both from 1818 ($11,875).
Swann Auction house’s literature specialist, John Larson, said of the sales: ‘Most any Jane Austen first edition appearance is noteworthy, but to have all six of her major novels, each one complete and in period binding, helped make this a wildly successful and memorable sale’.
There are likely some lucky Austen fans cooing over their new purchases at this very moment.
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