J O N K E R S R A R E B O O K S
157. [BRONTE, Charlotte, Emily & Anne] POEMS by Currer, Ellis and Acton Bell Smith, Elder & Co., 1846 [1848]. First edition, second issue with cancelled title page. Original ol- ive green cloth, stamped in blind on the boards with gilt titles to the spine. One page advertising leaf bound at rear. [46056] £4,500 “The rarity of the first issue of Poems is attributed to the obscure im- print of Aylott and Jones, who were primarily booksellers and station- ers rather than publishers, lacking distribution outlets. Poetry was not generally popular in the 1840s, and the Brontë sisters were unknown authors who sponsored the publication and advertising of the volume. About fourteen copies were distributed to reviewers; only two were sold; and an unknown number of courtesy copies were sent by Char- lotte Brontë to other authors whom the sisters revered. In 1848, George Smith bought the remaining stock, including sheets, cases, and bound copies; and he published under the Smith, Elder imprint a second issue” - Smith, The Brontë Sisters 1000 copies were printed in 1846, 961 of which were sold to Smith, El- der two years later, making copies of the first issue which is “virtually unprocurable” (Smith). Smith 1
155. AUSTEN, Jane; THOM- SON, Hugh NORTHANGER ABBEY AND PERSUASION Macmillan & co; 1902. Third edition illustrated by Hugh Thomson. 8vo. Orange cloth with elaborate red stamped decoration. Gilt lettering on front board and spine, all edges gilt. With forty black and white illus- trations by Hugh Thomson. A very good copy, with some wear to the spine ends and slight spot- ting to the rear end papers. Pre- vious owner’s bookplate on the free front endpaper. [46018] £375 “Reader, I married him.” 156. [BRONTE, Charlotte] BELL, Currer JANE EYRE An Autobiogra- phy Smith, Elder & Co., 1872. New edition in one volume. 8vo. Contemporary half calf over mar- bled boards, page edges and endpa- pers with matching marbling. Raised bands to spine with gilt tooling, gilt titles on a black title label. A very good copy, spine and corners rubbed with a dent to the bottom of the up- per board. Contemporary ownership inscription to first blank. [46567] £600 Charlotte Bronte’s first novel and key- stone of nineteenth century literature. The novel was greeted with almost in-
stant acclaim. Critics seized upon its imaginative power and the reality and freshness of its style. William Thackeray, to whom Charlotte dedi- cated the second edition, “lost a whole day in reading it.” To this day it remains one of the most popular and widely read English novels.
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