2. AUSTEN, Jane (1775-1817).
Sense and Sensibility: A Novel. London: Printed for the Author by C. Roworth, published by T. Egerton, 1813. 3 volumes, 12mo. (190 x 110 mm., 7 1/2 x 4 1/4 inches). Uncut with half-titles. Final blanks O10 in vol. I, N8 in vol. II and O4 in vol. III used as rear pastedowns Original blue gray boards, brown paper spines and pink printed spine labels; chemised in cloth clamshell case. Condition: Intermittent dust soiling to uncut edges, some very faint scattered spotting or toning to a few leaves, paper flaw in lower margin K2 in vol. I not affecting text; labels evenly faded retaining original pink on the edges, paper loss at spine ends of volumes I and III, light scattered chipping to spine of II, in all a very sound and unrestored copy. Provenance: Bibliotheque du Chateau de Valencay (armorial bookplate on front pastedowns); Hamilton Easter Field (arts and crafts style bookplate on rear pastedowns).
a fine copy of Sense and Sensibility in boards: a completely original and unsophisticated set of the rarest of her works According to Keynes the present title was first published in an edition of no more than 1,000 or possibly even as few as 750. It was actually the third work that Austen had prepared for publication: First Impressions (the first version of Pride and Prejudice) had been rejected by the publishers, whilst Susan (the first version of Northanger Abbey ) had been sold to a publisher for ten pounds, but they failed to issue it. In present edition Keynes notes, “The author introduced several alterations into the text of this edition, and passage containing a reference to an improper subject... was omitted. Several small errors were admitted which have been reproduced in later reprints.” Gilson A2; Keynes Austen 2.
est. $8000 – £12000