[Brontë, Charlotte.]

8vo (194 x 121mm.), third edition, Ellen Nussey's copy, with advertisement leaf at the beginning of volume 1 and 8pp. advertisements at the end of volume 3, without the advertisements at the end of volume 1 which are sometimes present, lacking the "9" in pagination on p.279 of volume 1, Gothic letters "n" inverted in "An" and "h" instead of "b" on title page of volume 1 (all points listed by Smith), late nineteenth-century polished red calf gilt by Zaehnsdorf, original brown cloth spines bound in, spines in six compartments with morocco labels, top edges gilt, inner dentelles, red coated endpapers, spines sunned,  some occasional spotting

according to the additional printed leaf bound in (signed by Ellen Nussey) at the beginning of each volume, this copy was presented by the author near the time of publication to her lifelong friend Ellen Nussey [However, considering the circumstances of its anonymous publication, and the author's closely guarded secret of her authorship, it may be that this copy was purchased separately by Ellen Nussey, probably on her visit to London in June 1848 (see Winifred Gérin, Charlotte Brontë. The Evolution of Genius,1967, pp.356 ff.)]; subsequently a gift of Ellen's (in May 1889) to Sir George John Armytage, 6th baronet of Kirklees (his bookplate in all volumes); thence by descent

Smith 2

Condition is described in the main body of the cataloguing, when appropriate.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

The third edition of the author's powerful and highly influential novel (published around 15 April 1848), which, owing to the work's immense immediate success among critics and the reading public alike, followed fast upon the first and second editions  of 19 October 1847and c.22 January 1848 respectively.

The three Brontë sisters had pledged to keep their authorship of their novels a complete secret to any but themselves. This included close friends such as Ellen Nussey. Thus, even though there had been gathering speculation about the true authorship of Jane Eyre in the spring of 1848, and even though Ellen recognised, having obtained a "third printing" (i.e. the third edition, probably this copy, in London in June 1848) that Charlotte herself was "present in every word" of the novel  (Reminiscences of Charlotte Brontë, 1871), Charlotte refused to own her part in the novel when Ellen confronted her by letter. Instead she chastised her friend for possibly spreading rumours of the idea: "I have given no one a right either to affirm, or hint, in the most distant manner, that I am 'publishing'- (humbug!) Whoever said it -- if anyone has, which I doubt, is no friend of mine. Though twenty books were ascribed to me, I should own none...The most profound obscurity is infinitely preferable to vulgar notoriety..." (letter to Ellen Nussey, 3 May 1848. published in The Brontës Their Lives, Friendships and Correspondence in Four Volumes, Vol.II, p.211). See also Winifred Gérin, Charlotte Brontë. The Evolution of Genius,1967, p.357.