Description
Emma: a novel. London: John Murray, 1816. First edition, 3 volumes, 12mo, (190 x 105mm.), half-titles in all three volumes, original blue paper boards, uncut, paper labels on spines, WATERMARK "BUDGEN 1815" AT P.108 AND 340 OF VOLUME 2, b2-11, c2-11, & d2-11of volume 1 loose, volume 1 upper joint very slightly rubbed & with small split, two small tears at head of volume 1 spine (no loss), very slight marking to bindings, modern green morocco-backed solander box
Footnote
Provenance: "Lady M. Dalrymple, Oxenford Castle", inscription on front free endpaper of volume 1; "Oxenford Castle" inscribed on front free endpaper of volume 3
Note: A superb copy of Jane Austen's fourth novel in original boards. Keynes in his bibliography notes "The firm of Murray has recently stated that 2000 copies of Emma were printed, and of these 1250 were sold within a year". Keynes also notes that "The collation of the first volume of Emma is peculiar in that the first sheet consisted only of the title-page and the dedication to the Prince Regent, while the half-title was printed on the last leaf, which would otherwise have been blank. If the binder has omitted to transfer the half-title to the beginning of the volume, it will appear, at first sight, to be imperfect". In the present copy the half-title is bound before the title.
"H" watermark on pp. 18, 42, 66 (& others) in volume 1; also on pp. 138, 188, 210, 236, 260, in volume 3. "Budgen 1815" watermark on p. 108and 340 of volume 2. Keynes's Bibliography refers to "Wove paper with watermark BUDGEN 1815, or with the date alone".