First edition of Pride and Prejudice expected to fetch up to £133,300 at auction alongside other Jane Austen gems

Numerous first editions of iconic Jane Austen books are hitting the auction block – including a copy of Pride and Prejudice expected to fetch up to £133,300.

The classic read was written by the English novelist in 1796-97 and was published in January 1813 with a run of just 1,500 copies.

The auction item in question was purchased just weeks after the release, reports Whats The Jam.

READ MORE: Fossilised ‘sea monster’ with webbed hands and skin still intact discovered at ancient tropical lagoon

It dates back to 28 January 1813, making it the earliest-known dateable copy of the novel.

The auction house Christie’s has placed an estimate of £88,900-£133,300 ($120,000 – $180,000 USD) on this incredibly rare find.

Among the literary treasure trove up for grabs is also Sense and Sensibility, Emma and Mansfield Park – expected to fetch up to £88,900 ($120,000), £14,818 ($20,000) and £37,000 ($50,000) respectively.

But the ‘Fine Printed Books and Manuscripts’ auction – which runs until 16 October in New York – also has plenty of other gems for sale.

This includes De Insulis nuper inventis by Christopher Columbus, which dates back to 1494.

It is expected to sell for between £1.1-£1.4m ($1.5-$2m USD)

‘De le maraueliose cose del Mondo’ – written by Marco Polo over 500 years ago – is also on the block.

The auction house believes it will bring in £88,900-£133,300 ($120,000 – $180,000 USD).

READ MORE: Mysterious hairy object plunges from sky, baffling officials