Turquoise Jane Austen ring sells for £150,000 at auction The sale of Miss Austen's jewellery at more than five times its estimate yesterday appeared to demonstrate that fascination with the Pride and Prejudice writer has yet to wane. After a tense battle between eight bidders, the item was eventually sold at £152,450 to an anonymous private collector over the phone. "Jane Austen's simple and modest ring is a wonderfully intimate and evocative possession," said Dr Gabriel Heaton, a manuscript specialist at Sotheby's auction house. The price achieved today and the huge level of interest it has generated, is a remarkable testament to the author's enduring appeal and her place at the heart of our literary and cultural heritage. Other items in the English literature, history, children's books and illustrations sale included early editions of works by William Shakespeare, Charlotte Bronte and Geoffrey Chaucer, water colours by Beatrix Potter and letters from Jonathan Swift. The auction generated more than £1.5 million, with many of the items selling above their estimates.