The Ferocious, Luminescent Brontë: Emily Brontë (1818-1848), English novelist and poet, as rendered at twenty-five, by her brother Patrick Branwell Brontë, circa 1833. (Photo by Apic/Bridgeman via Getty Images)
Bridgeman via Getty Images
Christie’s June 30 Exceptional Sale in London will present a curated selection of items, including a bespoke Cuban amboya cigar humidor gifted by President Franklin D. Roosevelt to Winston Churchill ($25,000–$40,000), a saber‑toothed tiger skull recovered from a Florida sinkhole in 2008 ($1,000,000–$1,500,000), and a rare first‑edition three‑volume set of Emily Brontë’s Wuthering Heights paired with Anne Brontë’s Agnes Grey ($200,000–$300,000 estimate, with expectations of a seven‑figure result).
The three‑volume first edition, preserved in its original cloth binding, originates from a private English library and represents one of the few surviving copies in such condition. Its significance lies not only in its rarity but also in its role as a seminal work of English literature that continues to inspire numerous adaptations across film, television, stage, and opera.
Emily Brontë’s novel, published in 1847 under the pseudonym Ellis Bell, emerged amid limited critical acclaim but has since been recognized for its stark portrayal of passion, conflict, and the tumultuous inner lives of its characters. The work’s cinematic vigor, driven by the windswept Yorkshire moors, has cemented its place as a timeless cultural touchstone.
David Wiltshire, Christie’s director of books, notes that the set’s original binding and provenance enhance its collector appeal, and that similar editions have not appeared on the market for over a century.
Wiltshire also recalls the curious episode surrounding the publication of the novel, when publisher Thomas Cautley Newby was surprised to learn that “Ellis Bell” was a woman, highlighting the gender biases of the era.
The Three Volumes Under The Hammer: The simultaneously published three-volume first edition of ‘Wuthering Heights’ and ‘Agnes Grey.’
Courtesy of Christie’s Images Ltd. 2026
The forthcoming auction, scheduled for June 30 at 4:30 p.m. BST (11:30 a.m. Eastern), promises intense competition among collectors eager to acquire this exceptional artifact of literary history.
UNSPECIFIED – CIRCA 2002: Portrait of Anne Bronte (Thornton, 1820 – Scarborough, 1849), Emily Bronte (Thornton, 1818 – Haworth, 1848) and Charlotte Bronte (Thornton, 1816 – Haworth, 1855), English writers. Oil on canvas by Patrick Branwell Bronte (1817-1848), caa 1834, 90.2 x74.6 cm. London, National Portrait Gallery (Photo by DeAgostini/Getty Images)
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