Colin Firth – Verona Westbrook

A rare first edition of “Pride and Prejudice” is to be auctioned at Bonhams.

With over 20 million copies of the original book sold, Bonhams is expecting a sale price of between £15,000 and £20,000.

“Pride and Prejudice” has been adapted for television of films dozens of times — the first TV version was in 1938 starring Curigwen Lewis and Andrew Osborn, followed two years later by a big-screen version with Greer Garson as Elizabeth Bennet and Laurence Olivier as Darcy.

An unlikely Darcy in 1952 was Peter Cushing, better known for Hammer House of Horror movies.

And then of course there’s the timeless 1995 television series with Jennifer Ehle and Colin Firth.

COLIN FIRTH may have been many people’s idea of the ultimate Mr Darcy in the 1995 BBC Pride and Prejudice.

And Jennifer Ehle was a particularly spirited Elizabeth Bennet.

But deserving of equal praise should be Benjamin Whitrow, who has just died aged 80, as an occasionally weary-looking Mr Bennet. He was nominated for a BAFTA for the rôle.

Who can forget his grave expression, with a just-perceptible twinkle in his eye, when Mrs Bennet threatens never to speak to Elizabeth again after she refuses her absurd cousin Mr Collin’s offer of marriage?

He adds: “Well, there you are, Lizzie, an unhappy alternative is before you. Your mother will never see you again if you do not marry Mr Collins and I will never see you again if you do.”

“Pride and Prejudice” first edition under the hammer

Goodbye, Mr Bennet