Sense and Sensibility. by AUSTEN, Jane - 1813: In Three Volumes. The Second Edition.

London: Printed for the author by C. Roworth, and published by T. Egerton, 1813. Contemporary binding, with appealing provenance Second edition. An attractive copy, uncommon in a contemporary binding. Sense and Sensibility was first published in late 1811, and the first edition was sold out by July 1813. This second edition, with the text significantly revised by Austen and the substitution of "By the author of Pride and Prejudice" for "By a Lady" on the title page, appeared in October 1813. Austen received her copy on 6 November, and wrote to her sister Cassandra, "My 2nd Edit. has stared me in the face... I cannot help hoping that many will feel themselves obliged to buy it. I shall not mind imagining it a disagreeable duty to them, so as they do it" (Gilson, p. 16).
This copy has appealing provenance: from the library of Sir Thomas Fraser Grove of Ferne House (1823–1897), an English Liberal politician who was the MP for South Wiltshire from 1865-1874 and for Wilton from 1885-1892. The Grove family was an important Wiltshire family in the 19th century. Thomas Fraser's aunt Charlotte Downes (1783-1860, née Grove) was a diarist and keen admirer of Austen. In 1818, she found "contentment in the 'fireside trio of her parents and herself, and in the reading aloud of Jane Austen novels, Shakespeare plays, and whatever new books the library sends Ferne" (Hawkins, p. 135). In 1834 she records in her diary: "Sept 23. My brother and sister Wm. Grove left us. I gave the former Miss Austen's novels" (Hawkins, p. 177). 3 volumes, duodecimo (191 x 113 mm). Contemporary brown half calf rebacked with original spines laid down, spines gilt in compartments, black morocco labels, marbled sides. Housed in a custom brown quarter morocco slipcase and chemise. Bookplate of Sir Thomas Fraser Grove, Bart., Ferne, and his ownership signature to each volume. Corners and ends of spines renewed, bindings a little rubbed, spotting to contents. A very good set. Gilson A2. Desmond Hawkins, ed. The Grove Diaries: The Rise and Fall of an English Family, 1809-1925, 1995.