Jane Austen signed ‘Emma’ fetches 325K pounds at auction

LONDON - A first edition copy of Jane Austen’s novel ‘Emma’ published in 1816 has fetched 325,000 pounds at an auction.

The book signed by the author has supposedly been brought by a British collector. In a 2008 auction, Jonkers Rare Books in Oxfordshire paid 180,000 pounds for it.

The book, which has also been showcased in Hong Kong, New York and San Francisco, is one of the 12 special ‘presentation’ copies, which the author gave to her friends and family.

“We had several clients around the world who were considering this book, but it is pleasing that the book will remain in this country,” the BBC quoted Christian Jonkers, director of Jonkers Rare Books in Henley-on-Thames, as saying.

“It is unique, considering the whole historical context of the book - the fact that it was given by Austen to her best friend who was a model for one of the principal characters in the ovel,” he added. (ANI)