[Brontë, Emily, and Anne Brontë] — Ellis Bell and Acton Bell | An outstanding survival of the sisters' debut novels

[Brontë, Emily, and Anne Brontë] — Ellis Bell and Acton Bell

Wuthering Heights. A Novel, by Ellis Bell [And:] Agnes Grey. A Novel, by Acton Bell. London: Thomas Cautley Newby, 1847

3 volumes, 12mo (Wuthering Heights: 190 x 117 mm; Agnes Grey: 194 x 121 mm). Wuthering Heights: 2 vols. Minor and scattered foxing primarily to Vol. II. Later half brown morocco and marbled paper-covered boards, spines with raised bands in six compartments, green morocco lettering-pieces to second and third, edges marbled. Agnes Grey: Title-page neatly reattached at inner margin, lacking publisher's ads at end, one or two stray spots and smudges. Later half brown pebble-grain morocco and marbled paper-covered boards, spine with raised bands in six compartment, second and third gilt-lettered, other with repeat pattern in gilt, top edge gilt; extremities rubbed, upper joint tender. Housed together in custom slipcase.

The scarce first edition, first printing, of Emily and Anne's ever-enduring debuts.

REFERENCES:

Parrish 85; Sadleir 350; Smith 60–63

PROVENANCE:

Wuthering Heights: Bent Juel-Jensen (booklabels to front pastedowns) — Cheswardine Hall (bookplates to front pastedowns); Agnes Grey: Edward Hubert Litchfield (bookplate to front pastedown; [?] his sale, Parke Bernet, 3-5 December 1951, lot 93)