Rare First Edition of Emma Acquired by State Library of Victoria
A 210-year-old first edition of Jane Austen's Emma, bound in leather and published in three volumes, has been acquired by the State Library of Victoria (SLV) and is now on display in the World of the Book exhibition. The purchase was made from antiquarian booksellers Maggs Bros at Melbourne's Rare Book Fair in 2025, coinciding with the 250th anniversary of Austen's birth.
The acquisition was funded by the Women Writers Fund, established in 2021, which raised $100,000 for the purchase. Philanthropist Helen Sykes, a founding donor along with Krystyna Campbell-Pretty, expressed excitement over the book's provenance. The copy once belonged to Austen's great-nephew, Edward Knatchbull-Hugessen, and remains in its original tree-calf leather binding with the title discreetly on the spine and no author name visible.
Significance of the First Edition
Dr Anna Welch, principal collection curator of historical books at SLV, noted that Austen published anonymously during her lifetime. Her identity was only revealed after her death in 1817, in the preface to the double edition of Northanger Abbey and Persuasion. Welch stated: "Her brother, Henry, and sister, Cassandra, organised the publication of those last two novels. That's when Austen's name appears in print as the author for the first time."
The three volumes are small, about 15cm tall, with delicate pages that require careful handling. They are stored in a high-security, climate-controlled area when not on display. While the rare books can be read by any library visitor, access requires a special room and guidance from staff, including using a cushion and weights to hold pages. Welch emphasized that clean, dry hands are best for handling paper, as gloves can cause clumsiness.
Women Writers Fund Addresses Gender Imbalance
The Women Writers Fund, which has raised $750,000 since 2021, has secured 250 books for the library. Its goal is to redress the gender imbalance in the library's rare books collection, which historically prioritized male authors like Chaucer and Shakespeare. Sykes noted that the fund allows the library to acquire works by "enormously capable, competent, trailblazing women."
The World of the Book exhibition also features 126 books secured by the fund, including a first edition of Virginia Woolf's A Room of One's Own, acquired for about £8,000 (A$15,414) five years ago. Other highlights include a "Peacock edition" of Austen's Pride and Prejudice with black-and-white illustrations, and a 1897 traveling library set with full-color illustrations.
Future Acquisitions and Broader Context
The fund's next wishlist includes first editions of Brontë novels. Sykes remarked: "Any sibling will do." Australian female writers are already well represented in the collection. Welch emphasized the importance of first editions: "It matters because it's the first expression of that work of literature, but also because there are changes between editions... There is an aura about a first edition."
This is not the only first edition of Emma in Australia; the State Library of South Australia holds one donated in 2008, and the State Library of New South Wales acquired one in 2017 for an undisclosed amount. The SLV's edition will be on display in World of the Book, reopening at the State Library of Victoria on 4 July.
