Lot 77
[Brontë (Charlotte)], "Currer Bell". Shirley. A Tale, 3 vol., first edition, Smith, Elder and Co., 1849.
Hammer Price: £3,200
Description
[Brontë (Charlotte)], "Currer Bell". Shirley. A Tale, 3 vol., first edition, vol. 1 with 16pp. publisher's catalogue dated October 1849, vol. 3 with 3pp. Opinions of the Press at rear, ink ownership name to titles, very occasional light spotting, lower hinge cracking to vol. 3 and cracked and weak to vol. 1, but both holding, original blind-stamped cloth, spines lettered in gilt, some minor shelf-lean, light fading to spines, mainly at head, and very slightly to vol. 1 covers, some light bumping to spine ends, very light rubbing to corners, overall near-fine, [Sadleir 348; Smith 5 pp.112-117], 8vo, Smith, Elder and Co., 1849.
⁂ A remarkably bright set of seemingly the rare uncorrected first state, with p.304 in vol. 2 misnumbered "403" and with error "Well said he" in line 1. Charlotte had begun writing Shirley in the spring of 1848, still buoyed by the success of Jane Eyre. Writing though would not come as easily to her as it did previously and progress was ultimately stalled by the crushing tragedy of losing her three siblings in less than a year. Charlotte persevered however and the novel was published in October 1849.
Description
[Brontë (Charlotte)], "Currer Bell". Shirley. A Tale, 3 vol., first edition, vol. 1 with 16pp. publisher's catalogue dated October 1849, vol. 3 with 3pp. Opinions of the Press at rear, ink ownership name to titles, very occasional light spotting, lower hinge cracking to vol. 3 and cracked and weak to vol. 1, but both holding, original blind-stamped cloth, spines lettered in gilt, some minor shelf-lean, light fading to spines, mainly at head, and very slightly to vol. 1 covers, some light bumping to spine ends, very light rubbing to corners, overall near-fine, [Sadleir 348; Smith 5 pp.112-117], 8vo, Smith, Elder and Co., 1849.
⁂ A remarkably bright set of seemingly the rare uncorrected first state, with p.304 in vol. 2 misnumbered "403" and with error "Well said he" in line 1. Charlotte had begun writing Shirley in the spring of 1848, still buoyed by the success of Jane Eyre. Writing though would not come as easily to her as it did previously and progress was ultimately stalled by the crushing tragedy of losing her three siblings in less than a year. Charlotte persevered however and the novel was published in October 1849.