You are currently browsing the daily archive for July 10, 2012.
at Sotheby’s this afternoon for £ 126,000 (plus buyers premium of 20%, making a total purchase piece of £152,450) to a bidder, identity currently unknown, who was bidding by telephone.
Jane Austen’s Ring, and Note from Eleanor Austen neé Jackson to Caroline Austen ©Sotheby’s
An announcement was made prior to the sale to the effect that tests have revealed that the stone in the ring is in fact a natural turquoise, and not odontolite as previously thought.
The first edition of Pride and Prejudice sold for £ 18,000:
Pride and Prejudice, First Edition, ©Sotheby’s
The first edition of Mansfield Park sold for £4,200
Mansfield Park First Edition ©Sotheby’s
The first edition of Emma was unsold, and bids up to £7,500 were received for it.
Emma, First Edition, ©Sotheby’s
The first edition of Northanger Abbey and Persuasion sold for £3,200
Northanger Abbey and Persuasion First Edition ©Sotheby’s
The Trafalgar Sea Chest sold for £15,000.
Battle of Trafalgar Sea Chest ©Sotheby’s
Some other lots were unsold, notably a collection of letters written by William IV.Hmm…..
Post Script: Some of you have wondered if I was there, and the answer is no, I simply watched the auction online. Some of the comments made by the auctioneer were priceless. He seemed to be fascinated by internet bids, informing internet bidders that it is “against you, Mightly Internet” or “Internet , it is between you and your mouse”. One of the Jane Austen first editions had “some gatherings proud”, and he thought this was an entirely poetic way to describe a Jane Austen novel. Priceless. I can highly recommend watching these auctions online via Sotheby’s website.
Last week, Persuasion…this week, Mansfield Park.
Mansfield Park on BBC Radio 4 Extra
BBC Radio 4 Extra are broadcasting a really lovely adaptation of Jane Austen’s most controversial novel, Mansfield Park this week.
Episode One has already been broadcast and is available to Listen Again to ,here, for the next seven days: Episode 2 is just finishing as I write and is available here, again for seven days. The third episode will be accessible via the adaptations main page, tomorrow.
As in last weeks case, this can be listened to wherever you are in the world and access is not limited to those of us who live in the UK. If you want to keep it, it can be downloaded for £7.49 here. It was first broadcast on Radio 4 in 2007.
It has a fabulous cast: Hannah Gordon is Jane Austen, the late and very lamented Michael Williams is Sir Thomas and Robert Glennister ( sigh) is Edmund. Fanny is played by Amanda Root ( who was the best Anne Elliot ever!)
