Books and Manuscripts

(Austen, Jane)
Emma: A Novel
London: Printed for John Murray, 1816. First edition. 12mo. (iv), 322; (iv), 351, (1); (iv), 363, (1) pp.; lacking P6 in Vol. I (half-title); with half-titles in Vols. II and III. Watermarks dated 1815. Contemporary three-quarter tree calf over marbled paper-covered boards, black morocco spine label, stamped in gilt, front board of Vol. I detached, rear board of same starting; front board of Vol. II starting, rear board of same detached but holding; front board of Vol. III detached but holding, upper rear joint of same worn; board and extremities rubbed; spine and spine ends worn and rubbed; red speckled edges; light to moderate foxing and soiling to text in each volume; old residue on rear paste-down of each volume from sometime removed label; short closed tear in fore-edge pp. 161/162 in Vol. III. Gilson A8; Keyes 8; Sadleir 62d

First edition of Austen's masterpiece, the last novel published by her during her lifetime. Written from January 1814 to March 1815, after several printing delays it was finally published that December, at Austen's own expense, in an edition of 2,000 copies.