# Is "History of the Conquest of Mexico" by William H. Prescott a First Edition?

> **Quick answer.** A first edition of History of the Conquest of Mexico by William H. Prescott (Harper & Brothers, 1843) is identified by: First edition, New York: Harper & Brothers, 1843, in three octavo volumes collating xxxiv,488; xviii,480; xvi,[2],524pp, illustrated with three engraved portraits, two engraved maps, and an engraved plate; Prescott negotiated an initial print run of 5,000 sets.

**Checklist — a true first has these:**
- First edition, New York: Harper & Brothers, 1843, in three octavo volumes collating xxxiv,488; xviii,480; xvi,[2],524pp, illustrated with three engraved portraits, two engraved maps, and an engraved plate
- Prescott negotiated an initial print run of 5,000 sets
- Publisher's binding is brown cloth elaborately blocked in blind, spine titled in gilt, with a gilt stamp on the front cover reproducing the arms of Cortes
- Standard references: BAL 16340
- Grolier American Hundred #51
- Hill 1383
- Publisher imprint reads Harper & Brothers

| | |
|---|---|
| Author | William H. Prescott |
| Publisher | Harper & Brothers |
| Year | 1843 |
| True first | — |
| Format | Hardcover (trade) |
| Key point | First edition, New York: Harper & Brothers, 1843, in three octavo volumes collating xxxiv,488; xviii,480; xvi,[2],524pp, illustrated with… |
| Book-club edition exists? | — |

## Points of issue
First edition, New York: Harper & Brothers, 1843, in three octavo volumes collating xxxiv,488; xviii,480; xvi,[2],524pp, illustrated with three engraved portraits, two engraved maps, and an engraved plate; Prescott negotiated an initial print run of 5,000 sets. Publisher's binding is brown cloth elaborately blocked in blind, spine titled in gilt, with a gilt stamp on the front cover reproducing the arms of Cortes. Standard references: BAL 16340; Grolier American Hundred #51; Hill 1383; Sabin 65262.

## Source
New Mexico Literacy Project — Is *History of the Conquest of Mexico* by William H. Prescott a first edition? https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/first-edition/history-of-the-conquest-of-mexico
CC BY 4.0. Part of the Canonical First-Edition Points of Issue dataset (https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/api/first-edition-titles.json). Last reviewed 2026-07-04.