[Austen (Jane)] Emma: A Novel, 3 vol., first edition, lacking half-titles, initial 3ff. vol. 1 lightly foxed, thereafter across the three vol. occasional scattered instances of light foxing or spots, vol. 2 pp. 73-96 differently stained perhaps by damp, contemporary tree calf, covers with single-rule gilt border, spines gilt with double red morocco labels, very slight wear to joints, [Gilson A8], 12mo, for John Murray, 1816.

***A lovely first edition copy of this well-loved novel, Austen's fourth, published in an edition of 2000 copies. Thomas Moore wrote to Samuel Rogers in June 1816: "Let me entreat you to read 'Emma' - it is the very perfection of novel-writing - and I cannot praise it more highly than by saying it is often extremely like your own method of describing things - so much effect, with so little effort!" (Gilson p.71).

Provenance: part of the set in uniform binding that would seem to have been received by Edward Knatchbull from his mother, Fanny, around his 10^th birthday.

Sold as part of lot 21, along with N.A. & P. in the sale of the 'Valuable Library of the late Rt. Hon. Lord Braboune' by Messrs. Puttick & Simpson, 26th June 1893.