The points of issue
Three volumes (Eliot's first full-length novel), title pages dated 1859, with publisher's advertisements bound at the rear of Volume III. Because the book reprinted very rapidly in its first year, the first impression carries no edition statement on the title pages; copies whose title pages read 'Second Edition,' 'Third Edition,' and so on are later impressions of the same year.
Is this the true first?
The Blackwood three-volume edition of 1859 is the true first. The absence of any 'Second/Third Edition' notice on the title pages is the key check, given the fast reprinting.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Title pages reading 'Second Edition' or later (1859) are subsequent impressions, not the first.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Adam Bede a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: Three volumes (Eliot's first full-length novel), title pages dated 1859, with publisher's advertisements bound at the rear of Volume III. Because the book reprinted very rapidly in its first year, the first impression carries no edition statement on the title pages; copies whose title pages read 'Second Edition,' 'Third Edition,' and so on are later impressions of the same year.
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 Blackwood three-volume edition of 1859 is the true first. The absence of any 'Second/Third Edition' notice on the title pages is the key check, given the fast reprinting.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Title pages reading 'Second Edition' or later (1859) are subsequent impressions, not the first.
I have a first edition of Adam Bede — 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.