Jane Austen’s House in Chawton, Hampshire—Austen’s home for the last eight years of her life and where she lived, wrote and published her novels— will display a newly acquired Austen letter following its discovery in Cambridge. The letter, dated 1798, comes to Jane Austen’s House through the Acceptance in Lieu scheme, administered by the Arts Council and negotiated by Cheffins Auctioneers, to settle £140,000 in tax.
Jane Austen wrote the letter from Steventon to her sister Cassandra who was staying with their elder brother, Edward Austen Knight, at Godmersham Park in Kent, on 27-28 October 1798. It offers an insight into Austen’s social circle, domestic life, and the realities of travel in the late 18th century, all written with Austen’s lively, and frequently biting, wit. The letter came to Cheffins Auctioneers from the estate of a Cambridge resident, who had acquired it in 2000. It is one of only approximately 160 letters to survive and is one of the earliest in existence.
The letter will be on display at Jane Austen’s House from 22 March as part of a new exhibition, My dear Cassandra…, exploring Jane’s special relationship with her sister.
Martin Millard, Director, Cheffins says: “We are delighted to have assisted in ensuring that this important letter by Jane Austen is now in its rightful home at Jane Austen’s House in Chawton. The letter had come to Cheffins Auctioneers from the estate of a local Cambridge resident, who had acquired it in 2000 to add to a small, but deftly invested, collection. Dated 1798, and written to her sister Cassandra, this letter is one of the earliest to survive of Jane Austen’s correspondence and is typical in its domestic style: it is lively, vivid, funny and a brilliant window into her personality. Many of Jane’s letters to her sister were destroyed by Cassandra two or three years before her own death, making survivals rare. It was the family’s wish and our recommendation that the letter go to Jane Austen’s House, and we are pleased to have brokered this transaction on behalf of our client.”
Professor Kathryn Sutherland, Jane Austen’s House Trustee says: “As domestic art, Austen’s letters hold a special appeal for visitors to Jane Austen’s House. We are thrilled with the allocation to us through Cheffins and by Arts Council England of this rare early example. It will be a bright jewel in our growing collection, and we look forward to celebrating its arrival in this display.”
The letter was amongst those bequeathed to Jane Austen’s niece, Fanny, Lady Knatchbull, by Jane’s sister, Cassandra and inherited by Fanny’s son, Lord Brabourne in 1882, who published it in his edition of the Letters of Jane Austen.
The letter has been included in the Arts Council’s Cultural Gifts Scheme and Acceptance in Lieu Report 2022.
Jane Austen’s House is currently open Wednesday – Sunday. My dear Cassandra… will run from 22 March to 29 October and will be free with House entry. An online exhibition will also be available. This exhibition is part of the ‘Year of Cassandra’, celebrating the life of Cassandra Austen, 1773 – 1845.