[AUSTEN, Jane (1775-1817).] Pride and Prejudice. London: Printed for T. Egerton, 1813.

First edition of Jane Austen’s most famous and beloved novel, in a contemporary binding, with ownership inscriptions dated less than eight weeks after publication. In each volume is the ownership inscription, dated 20 March 1813, of Sir Maurice FitzGerald, 18th Knight of Kerry (1774-1849). FitzGerald was the husband of Maria La Touche, a cousin by marriage of Mary La Touche. Austen records in her letters that she visited and was visited by Mary and her daughter Miss East when Austen was in London in 1811, 1814 and 1815, straddling the publication of Pride and Prejudice. Maria La Touche and Maurice FitzGerald lived in Dublin and had been married since 1801. It is suggestive that FitzGerald was able to acquire this copy of Pride and Prejudice so expeditiously after publication and that he assiduously recorded the date of acquisition.

Pride and Prejudice was written between October 1796 and August 1797 when Austen was not yet twenty-one, the same age, in fact, as her fictional heroine Elizabeth Bennet. Again centering her story on social class and marriage, Austen sharply observes her characters against the backdrop of Georgian England. After an early rejection by the publisher Cadell, Austen's novel was finally bought by Egerton in 1812 and published in late January 1813 in a small edition of approximately 1500 copies. This is the earliest-known specifically dateable copy of the novel, which was published on 28 January 1813. Gilson A3.

Three volumes, 12mo (169 x 99mm). Half-titles. (Minor spotting and thumbing; some short closed tears at margins; b10 in vol.3 with repaired tear mid-page, generally running between lines but touching about half a dozen words). Contemporary half calf (rebacked, with original spines laid down; vol.3 with small loss at foot; tips showing; rear hinges tender on vols 2 & 3). Custom cloth box. Provenance: Sir Maurice FitzGerald, 18th Knight of Kerry, 1774-1839 (ownership inscription to title pages, dated 20 March 1813) – Sotheby's, 18 December 1985, lot 64.