A rare painting described as the "most famous image" of English novelist Jane Austen has sold for a whopping 164,500 pounds at an auction here.
The painting which had a pre-sale estimate of 150,000-200,000 pounds was sold at Sotheby's auction house, yesterday, to an anonymous private collector.
The 1869 watercolour portrait, painted by James Andrews, was commissioned by the author's nephew, Reverend James Edward Austen-Leigh, and a version will appear on the new 10 pounds note from 2017.
Dr Gabriel Heaton of Sotheby's called the painting the "most important likeness of Jane Austen ever likely to appear on the open market".
The painting was based on the only confirmed portrait of the Pride and Prejudice author made before her death in 1817 - a sketch by her sister Cassandra, which is in the National Portrait Gallery, 'BBC News' reported.
Austen-Leigh felt the sketch of his aunt did not do her justice, and used Andrews' painting for his book Memoir of Jane Austen.
