The points of issue
Large single-volume biography in boards with gilt spine, in dust jacket with the price present on the flap. The first impression carries a full descending number line ending in 1 on the copyright page. A separate signed limited issue of 150 numbered copies in quarter cloth with marbled boards also exists.
Is this the true first?
The UK Sinclair-Stevenson edition of 1990 is the true first, preceding the US HarperCollins edition of 1991.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Later impressions break the number line; the signed limited issue is a distinct binding, not the trade first.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Dickens a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: Large single-volume biography in boards with gilt spine, in dust jacket with the price present on the flap. The first impression carries a full descending number line ending in 1 on the copyright page. A separate signed limited issue of 150 numbered copies in quarter cloth with marbled boards also exists.
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 Sinclair-Stevenson edition of 1990 is the true first, preceding the US HarperCollins edition of 1991.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Later impressions break the number line; the signed limited issue is a distinct binding, not the trade first.
I have a first edition of Dickens — 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.