The Austen Collection includes copies of all of the first editions--some in original boards, some from private owners, and others that had been in circulating libraries. There are also American firsts and the first illustrated editions published in London by Bentley in 1832.
Four of Austen's novels were published during her lifetime. Northanger Abbey and Persuasion were published together posthumously.
1811 Sense and Sensibility London, T. Egerton
1813 Pride and Prejudice London, T. Egerton
1814 Mansfield Park London, T. Egerton
1816 Emma London, John Murray
1818 Northanger Abbey & Persuasion London, John Murray
With the exception of Emma, which was first published in 1816 by M. Carey of Philadelphia, all of Austen's novels were first published in America by Carey and Lea of Philadelphia between 1832-33.
This "Philadelphia Emma," as it is sometimes called, is very rare, with Goucher owning one of six known copies worldwide. To learn more about the "Philadelphia Emma" and read a digitized facsimile visit: http://emmainamerica.org/.
Sense & Sensibility. . . by a Lady. London: T. Egerton, 1811
The Peacock Edition (Pride and Prejudice. Illustrated by Hugh Thomson. London: George Allen, 1894)
Pride & Prejudice. London: T. Egerton, 1813
Emma. Illustrated by C.E. Brock. London: J. M. Dent & Co., 1909
Engraved frontispiece (W. Greatbatch, engraver; F. Pickering, artist). Pride and Prejudice. London: Richard Bentley, 1833.
Mansfield Park. Philadelphia: Carey & Lea, 1832.
Elizabeth Bennet; or, Pride and Prejudice. Philadelphia: Carey & Lea, 1832. Two volumes. First American edition of Pride and Prejudice.
The extremely rare 1816 Philadelphia Emma published by M. Carey. Austen’s first novel printed in America and during her lifetime. Later novels would not be published in America until the 1830s in London and Philadelphia.
Emma. Illustrated by Hugh Thomson. London: Macmillan and Co., 1896
Pride and Prejudice.
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