First edition of Jane Austen’s Emma to go under hammer
22 Nov 2012 11:35 PM GMT
The last surviving first edition copy of Jane Austen's novel 'Emma' is expected to sell for a whopping 200,000 pounds at an auction here.
The three volume presentation copy is the only one from the original print run of 12 known to exist on Wednesday.
The literary legend requested that 11 of the books went to members of the Royal family, including the Prince Regent, and her own family, the Daily Mail reported.
The one that has now emerged for sale was gifted to Anne Sharp, a close friend of the novelist.
A clerk at the publishers was specifically instructed by Austen to pen the words 'from the author' on the title page of the book, which is still present on Wednesday.
'Emma' was the last of Austen's work to be published while she was alive and followed her other classics Sense and Sensibility, Pride and Prejudice and Mansfield Park.
It tells the tale of the misadventures of matchmaker Emma Woodhouse.
‘Jane Austen contacted her publishers and asked for 12 copies of her new novel to go to various people. These people were either royalty, members of her family and friends,’ Dr Philip Errington, a specialist in English literature at auctioneers Sotheby's, said.
The three volume presentation copy is the only one from the original print run of 12 known to exist on Wednesday.
The literary legend requested that 11 of the books went to members of the Royal family, including the Prince Regent, and her own family, the Daily Mail reported.
The one that has now emerged for sale was gifted to Anne Sharp, a close friend of the novelist.
A clerk at the publishers was specifically instructed by Austen to pen the words 'from the author' on the title page of the book, which is still present on Wednesday.
'Emma' was the last of Austen's work to be published while she was alive and followed her other classics Sense and Sensibility, Pride and Prejudice and Mansfield Park.
It tells the tale of the misadventures of matchmaker Emma Woodhouse.
‘Jane Austen contacted her publishers and asked for 12 copies of her new novel to go to various people. These people were either royalty, members of her family and friends,’ Dr Philip Errington, a specialist in English literature at auctioneers Sotheby's, said.
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