Forum sells 273 lots of Fine Books, Manuscripts and Works on Paper on Thursday, March 27. (...) A first edition of Charlotte Brontë's Villette (1853) inscribed by the author to William Makepeace Thackeray is estimated at £10,000–15,000.
Auction:
Thursday 27th March 2025 1:00pmLot 107A
[Brontë (Charlotte)] "Currer Bell". Villette, 3 vol., first edition, presentation inscription from Brontë to William Makepeace Thackeray, Smith, Elder & Co., 1853.
Estimate: £10,000 - 15,000[Brontë (Charlotte)], "Currer Bell". Villette, 3 vol., first edition, vol. 1 lacking publisher's catalogue at end, presentation inscription from Brontë to William Makepeace Thackeray "W. M. Thackeray Esq. from the Author" to preserved front free endpaper in vol. 1, dated Jan. 29th but year partially
trimmed, ink gift inscription "Miss J Mathews from R Ferguson, Oct 3 1877" beneath in a different hand, vol. 1 with unidentified heraldic ink-stamp to front free endpaper, Thackeray's small embossed stamp to head of titles, vol. 3 title and following 2 ff. loose, occasional light soiling, spotting to endpapers and very occasionally elsewhere, 19th century half calf over marbled boards, by Geo. Coward of Carlisle with his ticket to pastedowns, spines gilt and with red morocco labels, some wear to extremities, lightly rubbed, [Smith 6 pp.138-142], 8vo, Smith, Elder & Co., 1853.⁂ A remarkable presentation copy linking two of the great figures of 19th century English literature. Brontë is known to have held Thackeray in high esteem, dedicating the second edition of Jane Eyre to him, after much admiring his recently released Vanity Fair (1848): "I see in him an intellect profounder and more unique tha
n his contemporaries have yet recognised; because I regard him as the first social regenerator of the day". The two first met at a dinner party given by publisher George Smith in late 1849, the meeting reputedly stilted by Brontë’s shyness. Another dinner party, held by Thackeray in Brontë's honour in June 1850, appears to have been no more successful, with Brontë perceived as serious and in outmoded dress by her fellow guests. Despite moments of awkwardness, the important literary relationship between Brontë and Thackeray evidently stemmed from a deep mutual appreciation.Villette was Brontë’s last novel to be published in her lifetime. Thackeray posthumously published her fragment ‘Emma’ in his Cornhill Magazine (April 1860), accompanied by a personal tribute: "An impetuous honestly seemed to me to characterise the woman...Hundreds of those who, like myself, recognised and admired that master-work of a great genius, will look with a mournful interest and regard and curiosity upon this, the last fragmentary sketch from the noble hand which wrote Jane Eyre".
Lot 58
Heger (Claire Zoë) 4 Autograph Letters signed and one Autograph Postcard signed to Katie Douglas & one Autograph Letter signed to Meta Mossman, 1884-89, on a variety of subjects; and 4 other letters, from Louise Heger, referring to Charlotte Brontë as an artist etc.
Estimate: £600 - 800Heger (Claire Zoë, directrice of the school in Brussels attended by Charlotte and Emily Brontë, 1804-90) 4 Autograph Letters signed and one Autograph Postcard signed to Katie Douglas & one Autograph Letter signed to Meta Mossman, together 13pp & 2 sides., in French, [Brussels], 25th April 1884 - 9th January 1889, on a variety of subjects including their 51st wedding anniversary, family remembrances, advice etc.; and 4 other letters, from Louise Heger, referring to Charlotte Brontë as an artist etc., v.s., v.d. (9).⁂ Claire Zoë Parent (1804-90), was born in Belgium to a French father, and inherited from an aunt, a nun, a boarding school in Brussels, and it became known as the ‘Pensionnat de Demoiselles Heger-Parent,’ situated in the 32 rue d'Isabelle. In 1836, Clare married Constantin Heger (1809-96), a teacher at her school. Charlotte and Emily Brontë enrolled in the school in 1842 as pupils and teachers. Charlotte fell headlong in love with Constantin Heger and sent him numerous letters. Heger tore the letters up but Madame Heger rescued them and repaired them. They were given to the British Museum and were eventually published in The Times newspaper in 1913. Charlotte's time in Brussels with the Heger's furnished her with significant material for her later novels, especially The Professor and Villette.Provenance:Mme Zoë Claire Heger;By descent to Louise Heger (1839-1933);Gifted by Louise Heger to Miss Marion Douglas (sister of Katie Douglas);Marion gifted her Bronte relics to her niece, Meta Mossman;Gifted to Mr W.R. Cunliffe;Thence by descent to the present owners
Lot 52
Brontë (Patrick) Seal, oval orange hardstone (carnelian), engraved "B", set in a brass seal ring, c. 1840.
Estimate: £4,000 - 6,000Brontë [formerly Prunty, Brunty] (Patric
k, Church of England clergyman and author, 1777-1861) Seal ring, oval orange hardstone (?carnelian), engraved "B", set in a brass seal ring, slightly tarnished, old paper label attached "Bronte seal", hardstone 22mm. x 20mm., ring height 33mm., n.d. [c. 1840].⁂ In February 1842, Patrick Brontë escorted Charlotte and Emily to Brussels to attend the school at the Pensionnat Heger, 32 rue d'Isabelle. They planned to stay initially for six months, but they were subsequently invited to stay on, Charlotte to teach English and Emily music in lieu of fees.
Brontë (Emily) The North Wind, watercolour heightened with touches of gum arabic, after Finden's engraving of 'Ianthe' (Lady Charlotte Harley) in vol. II of the Life & Works of Lord Byron, image 160 x 113 mm (6 1/4 x 4 1/2 in), under glass, spotting and some toning to sheet, mount exposure lines visible, some surface loss and abrasion to corners, fine craquelure to gum arabic, framed, [1842]Provenance:Painted by Emily Brontë while at the Pensionnat Heger, Brussels, 1842;Probably Constantin Georges Romain Héger and Mme Zoë Claire Heger;By descent to Louise Heger (1839-1933);Gifted by Louise Heger to Miss Marion Douglas (sister of Katie Douglas);Marion gifted her Brontë relics to her niece, Meta Mossman;Gifted to Mr W.R. Cunliffe;Thence by descent to the present owners
Lot 54
Brontë (Charlotte) 2 cabinet portrait photographs of Charlotte Brontë, taken from the celebrated portrait by George Richmond in 1850, decorated brass frames, not before 1850.
Estimate: £600 - 800Brontë [married name Nicholls] (Charlotte [pseud. Currer Bell], novelist, 1816-1855) 2 cabinet portrait photographs of Charlotte Brontë, taken from the celebrated portrait by George Richmond in 1850, decorated brass frames, tarnished, housed in a leather pouch, each 65 x 52mm., [not before 1850].
Brontë [married name Nicholls] (Charlotte [pseud. Currer Bell], novelist, 1816-1855) Lock of Charlotte Brontë's hair, given by Charlotte's friend Ellen Nussey to be shared between Lady Morrison and Genevieve Wigfall, housed in an envelope "A part of a lock of hair of Charlotte Brontë's given to me by Miss Ellen Nussey
April, 1889. Leeds, Genevieve Wigfall", copy of letter from Lady Morrison to Wigfall, v.s., v.d., [gifted in 1889] (4 pieces).
Lot 56
Brontë (Charlotte).- Lowndes (T.) Autograph Letter signed to Marion Douglas, Eglinton Park, Kingstown, Dublin, October 1893, on Monsieur Heger, "you mentioned that you were apprehensive reflecting M. Heger's health; and a small quantity of others (sm. qty).
Estimate: £300 - 400Brontë (Charlotte).- Lowndes (T.) Autograph Letter signed to Marion Douglas, 8pp. & envelope, 8vo, Eglinton Park, Kingstown, Dublin, October 1893, on his interest in Charlotte Brontë and the Heger family, "you mentioned that you were apprehensive reflecting M. Heger's health", small tear along fold; and a small quantity of others, including c. 14 20th century letters sent to Walter Cunliffe regarding his collection of Brontë/Heger material, press cuttings etc. (sm. qty).
Lot 107Estimate: £1,500 - 2,000[Brontë (Emily and Anne)], "Ellis and Acton Bell". Wuthering Heights and Agnes Grey, 1 vol. as issued, second English edition, first issue with title dated 1850, lacking half-title and advertisement f. and publisher's catalogue, front free endpaper with later ownership inscriptions (abrasion and few small holes where one removed), divisional title to Agnes Grey with contemporary ownership name to verso, few short marginal tears, p.27 & 131 into text with tiny loss to one letter, p.318 some old tears and paper repairs affecting text with loss to few words, the occasional small stain, some soiling, gutter slightly cracked at points, upper hinge cracked, 19th century ?library cloth, spine lettered in gilt and with some fraying to ends, spine and upper cover slightly faded, few small and light stains, corners bumped and rubbed, [Smith 3 pp.63-69], 8vo, Smith, Elder and Co., 1850.
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