Property from an Important American Collection

[Austen, Jane]

Pride and Prejudice: a Novel. London: G. Sidney for T. Egerton, 1813

3 volumes, 12mo (172 x 102 mm). Half-titles; occasional light spotting, some leaves lightly toned, marginal tear to B2 of volume II and C3 of volume III, minor marginal water damage to a few leaves in volume III, slight adhesive show through to corners o💛f endpapers. Later half calf over contemporary marbled boards; expertly rebacked and recornered to style, evidence of adhesive at edges, corners lightly bumped, minor shelfwear. Housed on custom quarter calf over marbled boards clamshell cas💮e.

"...that a single man in possession of a good fortune must be in want of a wife."

The first edition of the tale that brought us the wonderfully complex relationship between tenacious and witty El𓃲izabet♈h Bennet and haughty and handsome Fitzwilliam Darcy. 

Austen particularly cherished her heroine, Elizabeth, writing the day after Pride and Prejudice was published, "I must confess that I think her [Elizabeth] as delightful a creature as ever appeared in print, & how I shall be able to tolerate those who do not like her at least, I do not know." 

Jane Austen began the novel as First Impressions, initially written in 1796 and 1797. The manuscript was originally rejected by Thomas Cadell and it was consequently left unfinished until 1811-1812 when Austen took it up again following the success of Sense and Sensibility. Here it evolved into Pride and Prejudice and was published by Thomas Egerton in January 1813 in a run of approximately 1500 copies priced at 18 shillings. At this time, Austen wrote excitedly to her sister, "I want to tell you that I have got my own darling Child from London...The Advertisement is in our paper to day for the first time...". It sold immensely well, and a second edition followed in the autumn of that year. However, because ♔the publisher had bought the copyright, Austen made little money from it🅺s success.

Oft-cited as the most-loved book of all time, the novel of manജners has inspired countless adaptations and has sold over 20 million copies. 

A handsome copy of one of the best-loved novels in all of literature.

REFERENCES:

Gilson A3; Keynes 3; Sadleir 62b; Tinker 204; Grolier English 138