This article was originally written by Ben Barry for SWNS — the U.K.’s largest independent news agency, providing globally relevant original, verified, and engaging content to the world’s leading media outlets.
Of her six completed works, Emma was described by famed British writer Ronald Blythe as “the climax of Jane Austen’s genius and the Parthenon of fiction” — and a first edition is currently on the auction block during the author’s 250th birthday week. Part of Bonhams’ Fine Books & Manuscripts Including Americana sale, the copy is expected to fetch up to $60,000 on Thursday.
First printed in 1816, Austen’s final published novel is considered by many to be her masterpiece. It follows the life of Emma Woodhouse, who is described as “wealthy, clever, but spoilt,” and explores themes of social class, marriage, and women’s roles. Nearly two centuries later, Emma partly inspired the 1995 film Clueless and its main character, wealthy Beverly Hills teenager Cher.
The edition in the auction’s lot is split into three volumes, each with their own “half title” — a cover page for each volume — which Bonhams say is “a detail missing in most surviving copies, as these were often removed when owners had their books bound.” It also includes calf-backed marbled paper boards, morocco corners, and an inscription from her brother in the flyleaf.
Bonhams, which is selling the book at its New York auction house with a starting bid of $32,000, told SWNS that Emma remains “a cornerstone of English literature and a touchstone for collectors worldwide.” But what many readers might not know is that Austen played a pivotal role in its early promotion. She originally paid for the printing and advertising herself, without putting her name on the book. By February 1817, after acting publisher and distributor John Murray’s 10% commission had been paid, along with his fees for a new edition of Austen’s novel Mansfield Park, she’d only earned around $51 in royalties. When she died five months later, about 25% of Emma’s first-edition copies hadn’t been sold.
The initial release garnered mixed reviews from friends and family, but higher praise from critics. Austen herself claimed that protagonist Emma was “a heroine whom no one but myself will much like” — of course, in time, the book would go on to be loved the world over, and is considered one of Britain’s greatest novels. By 1928, A. Edward Newton wrote in his book This Book-Collecting Game: “I have called Emma a ‘perfect’ novel: I think it is. Jane Austen used a small palette, but her colors were faultless.”
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