The first edition of Emma, published in 1816, was sold at auction in London for an astronomical sum of £375,000.
The book was one of 12 author copies provided by the publisher, Petr Murray, to Jane Austen. A 13th copy, bound in red morocco leather at the author's expense, was presented to the Prince Regent, King George IV's future. It is believed to remain in the library at Windsor Castle to this day, although it has never been publicly displayed. The copies given to Austen were distributed among her family, her friend Frances Talbot, Countess of Morley, and Anne Sharp.
The auctioned copy was the latter, inscribed "From the author." This is a true rarity, as no other author copies of Austen’s books with a handwritten dedication exist. The publisher wrote the inscription at Austen’s request and sent it to Anne Sharp.
Anne Sharp is thought to have inspired the character of Miss Taylor (later Mrs. Weston) in the novel. She was a close friend and also a reviewer of Austen’s works. "She was part of the intimate circle to whom Jane distributed copies of her novels and recorded their responses. Jane took Anne's reactions to her novels seriously, asking her to be honest in her assessments and documenting her comments in her journal." From this, we know that Sharp placed Emma somewhere between Pride and Prejudice and Mansfield Park in her estimation. Like Austen, Sharp never married. After Austen's death, her sister Cassandra sent Sharp some mementoes, including a lock of Jane's hair.
An American collector purchased a copy of Emma. However, the book will remain in the United Kingdom per the collector's wishes. It was subsequently sent to Chawton House in Hampshire, where the author’s brother, Edward Austen Knight, once lived. Today, this Elizabethan-era mansion houses a research centre dedicated to the history of British women writers from 1600 to 1830. Chawton was also where Jane Austen spent the final years of her life.