Jane Austen sold the copyright of Pride and Prejudice for £110. She sold it to publisher Thomas Egerton after revising an earlier manuscript titled First Impressions, probably around 1811–1812.
Austen had asked for £150, but accepted Egerton’s lower offer in return for a one-time payment. This meant Egerton took the financial risk of publication, but also received the profits. Pride and Prejudice appeared in three volumes on 28 January 1813 and was advertised at 18 shillings.
The arrangement proved disappointing for Austen because the novel sold very well. Egerton reportedly made about £450 from the first two editions, while Austen received no further copyright income. By contrast, Sense and Sensibility had been published on commission, allowing Austen to receive profits after costs. A common mix-up is confusing the £110 copyright payment with Austen’s later earnings from other novels.