James Andrews' famous portrait of Jane Austen has auctioned within estimate for £164,500 ($270,228) this afternoon at Sotheby's English literature sale in London.
 The portrait will replace Charles Darwin on the £10 note in 2017 |
Commissioned in 1869, the watercolour is regarded as the defining image of the author, and is set to appear on the Bank of England's £10 note from 2017 - two factors that may well have enhanced its price.
"This is the most important likeness of Jane Austen ever likely to appear on the open market," commented the auction house's Gabriel Heaton prior to the sale.
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