Sotheby’s marks Jane Austen’s 250th anniversary with the ‘By A Lady’ auction in New York, showcasing rare manuscripts, letters, and first editions.
This October, Sotheby’s will present a remarkable collection of Jane Austen materials in its inaugural “By A Lady” auction, taking place in 1.
Timed to mark the 250th anniversary of the novelist’s birth, the sale brings together some of the most important Austen-related works to reach the market.
The auction includes personal correspondence, rare manuscripts, and first editions, each offering a direct connection to Austen’s life, her literary circle, and her lasting influence on culture.
The Significance of the Collection
Dr Kalika Sands, Sotheby’s Head of Books and Manuscripts, Americas, calls the offering unparalleled. “This extraordinary group of works reveals Austen in all her facets, from the wit and sly humour in her private poetry to the intimate glimpses of daily life captured in her letters.
Among these treasures, the Edgeworth copy of Emma shines as a rare testament to the historical and literary connections between two great novelists. Together, these items constitute the most significant group of Austen material ever to appear at auction.”
The breadth of the collection underscores Austen’s importance not only as a novelist but as a figure whose personal voice continues to fascinate readers and scholars. With material ranging from letters to association copies, the sale is set to attract both private collectors and leading institutions.
Maria Edgeworth’s Copy of Emma
Est. $250,000 – $350,000
Among the highlights is Maria Edgeworth’s personal copy of Emma (estimated to sell for $250,000–$350,000). Published in 1816, it was the final novel Austen saw printed in her lifetime.
This copy stands apart as the only known instance of Austen sending one of her works directly to another writer.
Edgeworth, a pioneering figure in the development of the historical novel, mentioned the gift in a letter to her aunt: “The authoress of Pride & Prejudice has been so good as to send me a new novel just published, Emma.” While she later dismissed the book as lacking in story, the survival of this copy highlights a rare literary exchange between two major voices of the early nineteenth century. Passed through the Edgeworth family and later owned by Austen scholar Marilyn Butler, it remains one of the most important surviving association copies of Austen’s work.
An Intimate Letter to Cassandra
Est. $300,000 – $400,000
Also included is an autograph letter signed “JA” to Austen’s sister Cassandra, dated 11 April 1805 (estimate $300,000–$400,000). Written from 13 Queen Square, Bath, it is one of the longest surviving letters by Austen.
Filled with humour, sharp social observations, and personal warmth, it captures the intimacy of their relationship.
Austen jokes about calling cards as “affidavits” and sketches scenes of Bath society with characteristic wit.
The letter is particularly valuable given how few remain. Of the roughly 3,000 letters Austen is thought to have written, only about 160 survive, as many were destroyed by Cassandra after her death.
This example offers a vivid window into Austen’s daily life and the bond that shaped both her personal world and her writing.
A Rare Manuscript Poem: Lines on Maria Beckford
Est. $100,000 – $150,000
The sale also features Austen’s handwritten poem Lines on Maria Beckford (estimate $100,000–$150,000). Written around 1811, the poem reflects her playful style and sharp humour.
Inspired by a visit to the apothecary, Dr Newnham, with her neighbour Maria Beckford, who was treated with a mercury-based remedy, the verse lightly satirises the medical practices of the time.
Out of Austen’s eighteen known poems, only six autograph manuscripts remain in private hands, making this piece particularly rare. It offers a glimpse into her private literary circle, where she wrote for family and friends rather than publication.
Complete Set of First Editions
A complete set of Austen’s six novels in first edition, each bound contemporaneously, will also be offered.
Estimated at $960,000–$1.3 million, the set represents one of the few opportunities to acquire her works in their original published form. For collectors, such sets are exceptionally scarce.
The ‘By A Lady’ Auction
The title of the sale takes its name from the modest attribution on the title page of Austen’s first novel, Sense and Sensibility, published in 1811 as “By A Lady.”
The auction not only celebrates Austen’s legacy but also honours women whose creative contributions have shaped art and literature.
Alongside the Austen materials, the auction will include works across categories such as literature, manuscripts, jewellery, and photography.
Public exhibition runs from 10 to 14 October at Sotheby’s New York, followed by the auction on 15 October. The event is set to be a landmark for scholars, admirers, and collectors of rare books and manuscripts.
A Timeless Legacy
More than two centuries after her death, Jane Austen’s influence remains strong. Her novels continue to inspire adaptations and new readings worldwide, while her letters and manuscripts shed light on the woman behind the fiction.
Sotheby’s “By A Lady” auction is not only a major sale, but a celebration of Austen’s enduring role in English literature and her continuing appeal to audiences across the globe.
*Images: Sotheby’s
