AUSTEN, Jane (1775-1817). Pride and Prejudice: A Novel. London: T. Egerton, 1813.

3 volumes, 12mo (169 x 102 mm). Paper watermarked 1808 and 1812. (Lacking half-titles, a few minor marginal tears or losses occasionally repaired, a few leaves with paper flaws just affecting letters). 20th-century red straight-grained morocco gilt, turn-ins with gilt thistle roll-tooling, top edge gilt, others untrimmed, stamp-signed by C. J. Sawyer (a few tiny scuffs).

FIRST EDITION. Jane Austen wrote Pride and Prejudice (originally titled First Impressions) between October 1796 and August 1797 when she was not yet twenty-one -- the same age, in fact, as her fictional heroine Elizabeth Bennet. After an early rejection by the publisher Cadell who had not even read it, Austen's novel was finally bought by Egerton in 1812 for £110. It was published in late January 1813 in a small edition of approximately 1500 copies and sold for 18 shillings in boards. On 29 January 1813, Austen wrote to her sister Cassandra about receiving her copy of the newly published novel (her "own darling child"), and while acknowledging its few errors, she expresses her feelings toward her heroine: "I must confess that I think her 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." Gilson A3; Grolier English 69; Keynes 3; Sadleir 62b.

Property from the Estate of William D. Weiss, Jackson, Wyoming

AUSTEN, Jane (1775-1817). Pride and Prejudice: A Novel. London: T. Egerton, 1813.