Book Bought At Bootsale For 50p Could Be Worth A Small Fortune

Book Bought At Bootsale For 50p Could Be Worth A Small Fortune

A rare copy of Jane Austen’s ‘Pride And Prejudice’ bought from a car boot sale for 50p is expected to fetch hundreds of pounds when it goes under the hammer later this month in our Bath saleroom. 

Known as the ‘Peacock edition’ because of its gilt embellished cover depicting a peacock – reflecting the ‘pride’ mentioned within the title - the book is probably the most famous and collectable later edition of Pride and Prejudice. It features illustrations by Hugh Thomson, at the time a young Irish artist who had made his name in the 1880s illustrating Mrs Gaskell’s Cranford. He went on to become one of the most popular and successful book illustrators of the Victorian era.  

This particular copy was picked up a few weeks ago at a car boot sale in Bath for just 50p. ‘The vendor couldn’t believe their luck when they discovered it amongst a pile of other books being sold that day,’ says our Book Specialist, Scarlett Griffiths. 

‘These Peacock Editions are extremely sought after,’ adds Scarlett, ‘with copies often selling for over well over a thousand pounds. It was an incredible find!’ 

The book survives in ‘very good’ condition given that it is over 130 years old. 

‘It’s always a treat to see a rare Jane Austen book come in to our saleroom,’ adds Scarlett. ‘Bath has such a rich and important connection to Austen, with the author living here for five years from 1801 and the City holding the annual Jane Austen festival each year. It’s as if the book has come home.’

The book features in our upcoming Books & Works On Paper Auction on May 11th and it carries a pre-sale estimate of £500 to £800. You can view the full catalogue HERE.