The points of issue
Three volumes, title pages dated 1816 (the book went on sale 23 December 1815, hence the common note of late-1815 issue). Title pages read 'Emma: A Novel. In Three Volumes. By the Author of "Pride and Prejudice," &c. &c.', published by John Murray. The dedication to the Prince Regent is a required leaf. The first volume's collation is distinctive: the opening sheet carries only the title page and the dedication, with the half-title printed on what would otherwise be the last blank leaf. About 2000 copies were printed at the author's expense.
Is this the true first?
The UK Murray 1816 three-decker is the true first; the contemporaneous Philadelphia (Carey) 1816 edition is the first American but secondary. The dedication leaf to the Prince Regent is a required point.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Later one-volume reprints lack the three-decker format and the original Murray imprint and are not the first.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Emma a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: Three volumes, title pages dated 1816 (the book went on sale 23 December 1815, hence the common note of late-1815 issue). Title pages read 'Emma: A Novel. In Three Volumes. By the Author of "Pride and Prejudice," &c. &c.', published by John Murray. The dedication to the Prince Regent is a required leaf. The first volume's collation is distinctive: the opening sheet carries only the title page and the dedication, with the half-title printed on what would otherwise be the last blank leaf. About 2000 copies were printed at the author's expense.
How do I tell the first printing from a later one?
Check the copyright page for the publisher's first-printing convention and confirm the points above. The UK Murray 1816 three-decker is the true first; the contemporaneous Philadelphia (Carey) 1816 edition is the first American but secondary. The dedication leaf to the Prince Regent is a required point.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Later one-volume reprints lack the three-decker format and the original Murray imprint and are not the first.
I have a first edition of Emma — what should I do?
If you're clearing books, New Mexico Literacy Project offers free pickup in Albuquerque, any condition, and makes sure collectible copies aren't lost. To sell, see the author's collecting guide. Either way, nothing valuable ends up in a landfill.