Rare First Editions of Jane Austen Novels Sell for Big Bucks at Auction

All six of Jane Austen’s novels in their rare, original binding were auctioned on February 20th by the New York-based auction house, Swanngalleries.com. All six of them sold for substantially more than expected.

The novels are all in their original, rare period bindings, which according to the auction house’s catalog copy were “just as Austen herself would have seen them published, with half-title pages.”

Austen’s first novel, Sense and Sensibility, was published in 1811 and Pride and Prejudice has never been out of print since it was published in 1813.

So, without further adieu, below are the prices received for the novels:

Emma (as a set of three novels)

(expected to fetch $15,000-$20,000) sold for $27,500

Mansfield Park

(expected to sell for $8,000-$12,0000) sold for $20,000

Northanger Abbey & Persuasion

(expected to sell for $3,000-$4,000) sold for $11,875

Pride and Prejudice (three book set)

(expected to sell for $20,000-$30,000) sold for $100,000

Sense and Sensibility

(expected to sell for $30,000-$40,000) sold for $81,500