# Is "Narrative of the Life and Adventures of Henry Bibb, an American Slave, Written by Himself" by Henry Bibb a First Edition?

> **Quick answer.** A first edition of Narrative of the Life and Adventures of Henry Bibb, an American Slave, Written by Himself by Henry Bibb (Published by the author, 1849) is identified by: The true first edition's title page reads 'Narrative of the Life and Adventures of Henry Bibb, an American Slave, Written by Himself.

**Checklist — a true first has these:**
- The true first edition's title page reads 'Narrative of the Life and Adventures of Henry Bibb, an American Slave, Written by Himself
- With an Introduction by Lucius C. Matlack
- New York: Published by the Author, 5 Spruce Street, 1849,' with no edition statement printed on it, and it collates approximately 207 pages with 18 illustrations
- Matlack's introduction is dated New York City, July 1, 1849
- Because the narrative sold out quickly, the publisher issued further impressions from the same unaltered stereotype plates bearing the added title-page phrase 'Third Stereotype Edition'; copies carrying that phrase are later printings of the identical text, not the true first, and should not be mistaken for it
- Publisher imprint reads Published by the author
- Not a book-club edition (see below)

| | |
|---|---|
| Author | Henry Bibb |
| Publisher | Published by the author |
| Year | 1849 |
| True first | — |
| Format | Hardcover (trade) |
| Key point | The true first edition's title page reads 'Narrative of the Life and Adventures of Henry Bibb, an American Slave, Written by Himself |
| Book-club edition exists? | — |

## Points of issue
The true first edition's title page reads 'Narrative of the Life and Adventures of Henry Bibb, an American Slave, Written by Himself. With an Introduction by Lucius C. Matlack. New York: Published by the Author, 5 Spruce Street, 1849,' with no edition statement printed on it, and it collates approximately 207 pages with 18 illustrations. Matlack's introduction is dated New York City, July 1, 1849. Because the narrative sold out quickly, the publisher issued further impressions from the same unaltered stereotype plates bearing the added title-page phrase 'Third Stereotype Edition'; copies carrying that phrase are later printings of the identical text, not the true first, and should not be mistaken for it.

## Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
The 'Third Stereotype Edition' wording marks a later printing run off the same unaltered plates rather than a textual revision, but such copies are still not the true first — a genuine first-edition title page carries no edition statement at all. Both states share the 'New York: Published by the Author, 5 Spruce Street' imprint, so it is the presence or absence of the stereotype-edition wording, not the address, that distinguishes them.

## Source
New Mexico Literacy Project — Is *Narrative of the Life and Adventures of Henry Bibb, an American Slave, Written by Himself* by Henry Bibb a first edition? https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/first-edition/narrative-of-the-life-and-adventures-of-henry-bibb-an-americ
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.