Jane's Ring ... SOLD

 

Sorry it has taken us a while to write this information but a ring belonging to Jane Austen sold for £152,450 at a Sotheby's auction in London on July 10th, this was over five times the predicted price!

An article from the guardian newspaper states "The turquoise and gold ring came to Sotheby's from Austen's family, complete with a note sent by Jane's sister-in-law, Eleanor Austen, in November 1863, to Jane's niece, Caroline Austen. "My dear Caroline," wrote Eleanor. "The enclosed ring once belonged to your Aunt Jane. It was given to me by your Aunt Cassandra as soon as she knew that I was engaged to your uncle. I bequeath it to you. God bless you!""

The ring was passed from Jane Austen to sister Cassandra Austen to sister-in-law Eleanor Austen to niece Caroline Mary Craven Austen to niece Mary A. Austen-Leigh to her niece, Mary Dorothy Austen-Leigh, then to her sister, Winifred Jenkyns, who passed it to her descendants.

There has been speculation that the ring was given to her by Tom Lefroy but experts predict that she actually received it from her brother Henry who she was very close to.

Pic: http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2012/jul/06/jane-austen-ring-for-auction

Jane Austen Quote of the Week 196

"I have bought your locket, but was obliged to give 18s. for it, which must be rather more than you intended. It is neat and plain, set in gold."

The quote was part of Jane Austen's letter to Cassandra on Monday, 24 May 1813, written from Sloane St. It was brought to my attention by way of this Daily Mail article about an unknown ring that once belonged to Jane Austen herself (no, I don't think the above quote was about the ring. It was about a locket. But still...).

The gold ring is thought to mount a blue odontolite (bone turquoise) stone. Apparently, Cassandra Austen passed the ring to their sister-in-law Eleanor (who married to Henry Austen), presumably after Jane passed away. Eleanor then passed it to Caroline Austen, who then passed the ring to Mary (the daughter of James Edward Austen-Leigh. Etc etc etc. The ring has been in the family ever since, for over 200 years. This is the direct quote from the article:

A note that accompanies the sale of the ring explains how Austen’s sister-in-law Eleanor Austen had been given it when she became engaged to the writer’s brother Henry.

She wrote: ‘My dear Caroline. The enclosed Ring once belonged to your Aunt Jane. It was given to me by your Aunt Cassandra as soon as she knew that I was engaged to your Uncle. I bequeath it to you. God bless you!’

This was the same year that Caroline’s brother, James-Edward Austen-Leigh, wrote ‘A Memoir of Jane Austen’ with the help of his sister.

Caroline never married and the ring passed to James-Edward’s daughter Mary and it has continued to be passed down the family until now.

The ring will be auctioned by Sotherby's on 10 July 2012. Anyone interested?

Picture: The simple yet beautiful blue and gold ring of Jane Austen's

NEW Becoming Jane Header and Wallpaper

Thanks to Maria we have another fantastic Becoming Jane header.
You can use it on FBs new timeline coverimage aswell.

Download the header here:
http://www.4shared.com/photo/g-LoDPac/BJ_FB_cover.html

And the wallpaper:

1024x768: http://www.4shared.com/photo/lbAbArDb/BJ_wallpaper_1024x768.html

1680x1050: http://www.4shared.com/photo/TOsQLJhK/BJ_Wallpaper_1680x1050.html

 

Gone Reading - update

In November of last year I made a quote about a wonderful organisation called Gone Reading,

You can read the post here.

They have Austen themed gifts, amongst others, and all profit goes to charity.

Gone Reading is based in the US with free shipping if the order is over a certain amount.

There is currently a 25% off coupon for the readers of our blog which expires 10 March.

Visit Gone Reading website

Simply add BECOMINGJANE25 into the checkout and your discount will be applied.

Happy shopping!

Pic: Taken from the website

Gone Reading

I would like to thank Brad for posting a comment and making us aware of a wonderful organisation called GoneReading. They provide products for book lovers which I am sure includes every one of our readers on this blog.


It was founded in 2011 and donates 100% of company profits to fund reading libraries and other literacy projects in the developing world.


They work with non-profit organisations such as READ global and Ethiopia Reads who partner local villages and communities in the most underdeveloped parts of the world to effect real change.

BETTER STILL they have a set of Jane Austen themed gifts, see here.

These gifts include t-shirts, mugs, bags.

So shop now to support such a wonderful cause. Founder Brad Wirz says "We believe that when people have open access to great reading materials, life always changes for the better," I couldnt agree more.

Pic : Taken from the GoneReading website

February Calendar

To match the wonderful header, Maria has also produced a stunning calendar for this month. I can only apologise that we are already 7 days into the month.


Thanks Maria.

Update 8 Feb11:

Links to the high resolutions of the wallpaper:

1024 x 768

1280 x 800

1680 x 1050

A Carriage Ride in Queen's Square - Piano Music & CD

From my latest edition of Jane Austen's Regency World, I have been made aware of a wonderful gift/present for yourself if you are lucky enough to demonstrate musical talent.

It is a book of piano pieces with cd related to Bath at the time when Jane Austen lived there. There are original compositions from the great-great-grandaughter of Jane Austen's niece, Fanny Knight.

For more information and details for ordering, see the link below:
http://giftshop.janeausten.co.uk/acatalog/info_565.html


Pic: Jane Austen Centre giftshop

Ideas for Christmas Gifts....

The time is approaching where we are starting to think about christmas gifts for our loved ones......well I have spotted a few great ideas which I have chosen to display on the blog, purely because I know that I would love them myself!

Naxos audiobooks have launched a complete collection of Jane's work- including her famous six novels (Emma, Pride and Prejudice, Sense and Sensibility, Northanger Abbey, Mansfield Park and Persuasion) and also the unfinished Sanditon and The Watsons. Some of the vocals are provided by Juliet Stevenson (Mrs Elton in Emma, 1996) and Emilia Fox(Georgiana Darcy in Pride and Prejudice, 1995) . The audiobook can be downloaded from from Naxos or bought from Amazon.

Another Amazon treat which I have spotted is a Jane Austen Desk Diary 2010 from the British Library. It is reduced to £7.59 which can be a great stocking filler.

Enjoy.....

Jane Austen Entertains- Music From Her Own Library

I wanted to make you all aware of my find. I have not received the CD itself yet but I think this would be the most wonderful present for anyone who wishes to buy their loved one (who of course shares our adoration for all things Jane!) a different, yet rewarding present.

Jane Austen Entertains presents music taken directly from the rooms in which Jane shared with her mother and her sister Cassandra at Chawton. With a selection of talented musicians playing the piano, flute and singing, we are to be transformed into a world which would have been experienced by Jane and her loved ones.

On Amazon it displays an extract from the memoirs of Jane Austen's niece Caroline, 1867.

"Aunt Jane began her day with music - for which I conclude she had a natural taste; as she thus kept it up - 'tho she had no one to teach; was never induced (as I have heard) to play in company; and none of her family cared much for it. I suppose, that she might not trouble them, she chose her practicing time before breakfast - when she could have the room to herself - She practiced regularly every morning - She played very pretty tunes, I thought - and I liked to stand by her and listen to them; but the music (for I knew the books well in after years) would now be thought disgracefully easy - Much that she played from was manuscript, copied out by herself - and so neatly and correctly, that it was as easy to read as print."

Here is the list of the tracks included

1. Flute: The Yellow Hair'd Laddie - Anon
2. Song: Hooly & Fairly - Anon
3. Song: Waly, Waly - Anon
4. Adagio non troppo - Ignace Pleyel, Sonatina No 5 in G major for pianoforte solo
5. Un poco piu moto Pleyel, Sonatina No 5 in G major for pianoforte solo
6. Rondo Allegro Pleyel, Sonatina No 5 in G major for pianoforte solo
7. Flute: The Egyptian Love Song - Anon
8. Song: Betsy Bell & Mary Gray - Anon
9. Song: Polwart on the Green - Anon
10. Flute: For Tenderness form'd in Life's early day - Anon
11. Allegro con brio - Johann Sterkel, Sonata No. 2 in G major for flute and pianoforte
12. Rondo Andante - Sterkel, Sonata No. 2 in G major for flute and pianoforte
13. Song: The Last Time I came O er - Anon
14. Song: The Banks of Forth - Anon
15. Song: Katharine Ogie - Anon
16. Andante Grazioso Pleyel, Sonatina No. 10 in B flat major for pianoforte solo
17. Menuetto Allegretto - Pleyel, Sonatina No. 10 in B flat major for pianoforte solo
18. Song: My deary, if thou die - Anon
19. Allegro - Pleyel, Sonata No. 4 in A major for flute and pianoforte
20. Andante - Pleyel, Sonata No. 4 in A major for flute and pianoforte
21. Rondo Allegro assai - Pleyel, Sonata No. 4 in A major for flute and pianoforte

To see pic and to find out more, see here: Jane Austen Entertains, Amazon

The most expensive hair in the world!

Thanks to Mariana for the tips, we learn of the sale of a lock of Jane Austen’s hair. Experts were actually unsure if the lock was actually Jane’s, but it still did not fail to attract buyers. Dominic Winter Auctioneers of Gloucestershire eventually sold the lock for more than GBP 4,800. The lucky and rich buyer is Holybourne Rare Books on behalf of an anonymous Janeite. The auburn coloured lock was fashioned into a weeping willow encased in a three-inch frame.

There’s a discrepancy with the final price. The Telegraph UK said it was GPB 5,640; BBC and Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard said it was GBP 4,800. According to WGS, auctioneer Chris Albury said that “If we had been able to prove it conclusively I'm sure there would have been a lot more bidders and a much higher price.”

Oh my. How much could it be then? GBP 50,000, like Engleheart’s painting of Tom Lefroy? Good God, Willoughby…

By the way, if any of you missed James McAvoy, you might want to read this article of The Telegraph. It’s about Wanted, not Becoming Jane, and James did not use his British/Scottish/Irish accent, but still it’s JMA!

Pic: The famous lock of Jane Austen, from BBC

Jane Austen Calendar 2008 part 2

Many thanks to Christina in Texas who made this incredibly beautiful calendar, and Michelle who sent it to the rest of Team Jane, here is the 2008 Jane Austen Calendar in JPEG format. You have to download each pictures, unfortunately, for Blogger does not accommodate PDF. Not that I'm aware of, at least. The ITV Austen fans will find lots of comfort in the calendar. Fans of Emma 1996 (Gwyneth Palthrow), Pride & Prejudice 2005 (Keira Knightley), Sense & Sensibility 2008, and Becoming Jane will also have heart throbs!

Elizabeth Bennet & Mr. Darcy for Jan 2008; Marianne Dashwood & Willoughby for Feb 2008.




















Catherine Morland & Mr. Tilney for March 2008; Anne Elliot & Capt. Wentworth for April 2008.

Fanny Price & the Boys for May 2008; Emma Woodhouse & Mr. Knightley for June 2008.






















Elizabeth Bennet for July 2008; Elinor & Marianne Dashwood for Aug 20008.





















Catherine Morland for September 2008; Anne Elliot for October 2008.





















Fanny Price for Nov 2008; Emma Woodhouse for Dec 2008.





















And... Jane Austen & Tom Lefroy for January 2009!

Thanks a lot, Christina. And to everyone who have commented on the broken links, so that I could fix them up. Hope you guys have no problems downloading it now.

Jane Austen 2008 Calendar Free to Download!

I have just opened my email inbox to very exciting goodies and I am thrilled to share with the BJ Blog a Jane Austen 2008 Calendar created by Christina. Thank you SO MUCH Christina for sharing your creativity with us all! Personally, I can't wait to print the calendar out and enjoy it for the rest of the year. Print it out on 8 1/2 x 14 paper (legal size).

[Erm, I just need to figure out how to share a PDF file via Blogger. Please bear with me!]