The Wykehamist
Jane Austen in Print
Early Editions from the Winchester Collection
Room 2 of the Jane Austen 250th Anniversary Exhibition at Winchester College brings visitors face-to-face with some of the earliest editions of Austen’ s novels- remarkable survivals that offer a direct connection to the author’ s world and readership. These volumes, drawn from the College’ s Fellows’ Library, trace the trajectory of Austen’ s literary output from anonymous publication to posthumous recognition, and illuminate the quiet but enduring success she achieved during her lifetime.
Austen’ s first published novel, Sense and Sensibility, appeared in 1811 and was an immediate success, selling out within two years. On display in Room 2 is a rare second edition of the novel, printed in 1813. This edition revised the text slightly and replaced the original authorial designation,“ By a Lady,” with“ By the author of Pride and Prejudice,” a nod to Austen’ s growing literary identity. The Winchester College copy is part of a collection of early editions left to the school in 1972 by Horace Arthur Jackson, a former pupil and Don of the College.
Alongside it is volume three of Emma, Austen’ s fourth novel and the only one she published with the distinguished firm of John Murray, who also counted Lord Byron and Walter Scott among their authors. First published in 1816, Emma reveals Austen at the height of her powers, engaging with themes of self-knowledge, social mobility, and romantic misjudgement. The edition on display preserves its original binding and is notable for its association with one of Britain’ s most influential publishing houses of the period.
Two volumes of Northanger Abbey and Persuasion, published together in 1817 but dated 1818, also feature in the exhibition. These works appeared posthumously, five months after Austen’ s death, and included a short biographical notice by her brother Henry- a significant milestone, as it was the first time Austen was publicly acknowledged as the author of her novels. One of the volumes on display bears the ink stamp of the Hereford Permanent Library, whose subscribers paid £ 1 10s annually- about twice the cost of a single novel- highlighting how Austen’ s works circulated in lending libraries and reached a broad readership.
Another displayed copy retains the original publisher’ s blue paper-covered boards, a rare survival that offers insight into the book trade of the early 19th century. Most such volumes were later rebound in leather or marbled covers, making this example particularly significant for bibliographic study.
The selection of early editions in Room 2 reflects the literary landscape Austen navigated during her career: a world of anonymity, modest advances, and careful negotiations with publishers. It also shows how quickly her works began to establish themselves in the cultural imagination- even before her name appeared on a title page.
Winchester College’ s possession of these rare volumes underscores the school’ s close historical ties to the Austen family. Six of Jane Austen’ s nephews, all sons of her brother Edward, were educated at Winchester between 1807 and 1830, and it was in a house now owned by the College- No. 8 College Street- that Austen spent her final weeks. These editions, preserved and displayed here, allow us to experience her literary presence in the very city where her story came to a close.
Yash Sawhney( I, 2021-)
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