The last surviving first edition copy of Jane Austen's novel Emma is expected to sell for a whopping £200,000 at an auction here. The three volume presentation copy is the only one from the original print run of 12 known to exist today.
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 today.
Emma was the last of Austen's work to be published while she was alive and followed her other classics.