Jane Austen's Gold Ring, via Sotheby's

Sotheby's London will be auctioning a ring that belonged to Jane Austen on July 10. The lovely gold and turquoise ring has remained in the Austen family and its provenance is substantiated by an accompanying note from Jane's sister-in-law, Eleanor Austen. The note was written to Jane's niece Caroline in November of 1863 and read:

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!

Austenites will be giddy over this piece, as it is very rare to come across any of Jane Austen's personal possessions (and extremely uncommon for something previously unknown to be 'discovered'—Austen has had a longrunning rabid following). The most intriguing question regarding the ring is who gave it to Jane. (A question which prompts me to ask, why couldn't she have purchased it herself? But then perhaps my knowledge of Jane and her time is too superficial. Any insights much appreciated!) Dr. Gabriel Heaton, Sotheby's literature expert, has two possibilities in mind. The first is Tom Lefroy, Jane's "Irish friend", who she had a particular fondness for and who is theorized to have been the basis of Mr. Darcy's character. The second candidate is Jane's brother Henry. Dr. Heaton favors the latter theory because "the ring is in a box fashioned by a goldsmith in the City of London, and Henry worked as a banker there so would have been in the right place and had the money to buy it." The ring has a guide price of £20,000 to £30,000 ($31,078 to $46,617). It will be auctioned on July 10 alongside some of Austen's first editions.

Jane Austen's gold ring goes up for auction