Jane Austen ring for sale

Jane Austen ring for sale at Sotheby's

We’re quite used to first editions of Jane Austen’s books coming up for auction – and raising increasingly large sums for impoverished vendors. But now this ring, THAT ONCE BELONGED TO JANE AUSTEN, is to be sold by Sotheby’s on July 10. Here’s the details from their catalogue:

A GOLD AND GEM SET RING
set with a cabochon blue stone, probably odontalite, size K½ with sizing band, once belonging to Jane Austen, in a contemporary jeweller’s box (“T. West  Goldsmith  Ludgate Street  near St Paul’s”)

[with:] autograph note signed by Eleanor Austen, to her niece Caroline Austen, “My dear Caroline. The enclosed Ring once belonged to your Aunt Jane. It was given to me by your Aunt Cassandra as soon as sheﾠ knew that I was engaged to your Uncle. I  bequeath it to you. God bless you!”, 1 page, November 1869, with address panel on verso and remains of black wax seal impression, fold tears; also with three further notes by Mary Dorothy Austen-Leigh detailing the ring’s later provenance, 5 pages, 1935-1962

Yours for £20,000- £30,000, they estimate.

Oh, and there’s also first editions of Pride and Prejudice, Emma, Mansfield Park, and Northanger Abbey/Persuasion going under the hammer in the same sale. Sounds like one of the family is having a clear-out!