Austen, Jane. Pride and Prejudice. 1813. London. T. Egerton. Volume I printed by C. Roworth, Volumes II and III printed by G. Sidney. Three volumes, 12mo, (178 x 110 mm). [2], [1]-307, [308, blank]; [2], [1], [1]-239, [240, blank]; [2], [1]-323, [324, blank] [A1], B-N12, O8, P2; [A1], B-L12 (5s missigned as 3s except in E); [A1], B-O12 (5s missigned as 3s), P6. Bound without half-titles, as often. Contemporary green half calf, spines lettered in gilt, spines and covers ruled in gilt, speckled edges, purple silk bookmarkers. Housed in a custom green quarter morocco folding box. Early shelf label to front pastedown of vol. I. Expert repair to joints and extremities, boards a little marked and rubbed, spot of wear to lower outer corner of vol. I, discreet repair to gutter of front free endpaper in vol. II and small loss to rear free endpaper, front inner hinge of vol. III cracked but firm, first few leaves of each vol. spot-cleaned, a couple of margins of vol. II closely trimmed, short closed tear to outer margin of vol. III, p. 127/8, not affecting text. A very good set.

Provenance: Sir Charles Cockerell, Baronet (1755-1837), politician and East India Company official, with his bookplates (a little worn and creased when mounted); Gerald Ponsonby (1829-1908), private secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, with his book label in vol. II; Albert Henry Wiggin (1868-1951), banker, with his bookplates; Lynde Selden (1892-1972), Wiggin's son-in-law, with his bookplates.

After the first edition of Sense and Sensibilty had nearly sold out, Pride and Prejudice was published on 28 January 1813 by Thomas Egerton in an edition of around 1,500 copies. Austen received her copy the following day and 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” (Le Faye, p. 201).

It sold fast, going into a second edition the same year. It was favorably reviewed by the British Critic and the Critical Review, the former stating in 1813, “It is very far superior to almost all the publications of the kind which have lately come before us.”

Sir Walter Scott, who had previously praised Emma in 1816 of the Quarterly Review, wrote in a 14 March 1826 journal entry, “Also read again for the third time at least Miss Austen's very finely written novel of Pride and Prejudice. That young lady had a talent for describing the involvements and feelings and characters of ordinary life which is to me the most wonderful I ever met with... What a pity such a gifted creature died so early!” The story has remained popular as ever through the twentieth and twenty-first centuries, spawning two Academy Award-winning film adaptations and a BAFTA-winning miniseries.

Austen particularly cherished her heroine. Writing to her sister, she noted “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” (ibid.).

Provenance: Sir Charles Cockerell, Baronet (1755-1837), politician and East India Company official, with his bookplates (a little worn and creased when mounted); Gerald Ponsonby (1829-1908), private secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, with his book label in vol. II; Albert Henry Wiggin (1868-1951), banker, with his bookplates; Lynde Selden (1892-1972), Wiggin's son-in-law, with his bookplates.

Gilson A3; Grolier English 138; Keynes 3; Sadleir 62b; Tinker 204. Deirdre Le Faye, Jane Austen's Letters, 1997. Gray, Donald J. (editor)," Pride and Prejudice. An authoritative text, backgrounds, reviews and essays in criticism," New York: W.W. Norton & Company, Inc., 1966.