Lot 39: [BRONTË, CHARLOTTE.]

VILLETTE. BY CURRER BELL. SMITH, ELDER & CO., 1853
8vo (195 x 124mm.), 3 volumes, first edition, presentation copy from the author to her lifelong friend Ellen Nussey, inscription in recipient's hand on front free endpaper ("E Nussey | from the author"), publisher's 16pp. catalogue at the end of volume one dated March 1854, 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 and with some slight wear, some minor soiling and spotting to text

Smith 6

presented by the author near the time of publication to her lifelong friend Ellen Nussey, presentation inscription in the hand of Ellen Nussey on front free endpaper; given by Ellen in May 1889 to Sir George John Armytage, 6th baronet of Kirklees (Armytage bookplate and additional printed leaf, c.1889, with full provenance, signed by Ellen Nussey, bound in at the front of each volume); thence by descent