More valuable
An article at Scotsman.com about first editions tells a little about why Jane Austen’s first editions cost more than, say, Charles Dickens’:
A full, original edition of the 20 episodes of Dickens’ Nicholas Nickleby reached only £4,800 at a recent auction, while an initial printing of the serialised parts of Our Mutual Friend would currently be worth only £500. That said, a couple of years ago a first edition of Pride and Prejudice sold for £22,000 in Edinburgh.
Alex Dove, a book specialist at Bonhams, said a good-condition full set of Jane Austen’s classic should fetch between £20,000 and £30,000. Dove explained: “Her novels, like Pride and Prejudice, were published in three volumes, and you would need all three to command a top price. Early Dickens are even more rare, as they were printed as serials in pamphlets. It is very unusual to have a full set of each edition - so these can command high prices.”
And weren’t there a lot more copies of the Dickens serials produced than of Jane Austen’s novels? Just saying.
