The points of issue
First edition in three volumes (three-decker), with the half-titles and the correct first-issue text including the 'Chapter XXV' / 'Saturday Review' points; the 'ramble' and the first-state readings (e.g., the corrected text in later issues). Original cloth in three volumes.
Is this the true first?
UK Osgood McIlvaine 1891 three-volume is the true first; the one-volume 1892 is a later edition. Complete three-decker in original cloth is the landmark.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
The one-volume editions and later reissues are not the first; any single-volume copy is later.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Tess of the d'Urbervilles a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: First edition in three volumes (three-decker), with the half-titles and the correct first-issue text including the 'Chapter XXV' / 'Saturday Review' points; the 'ramble' and the first-state readings (e.g., the corrected text in later issues). Original cloth in three volumes.
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. UK Osgood McIlvaine 1891 three-volume is the true first; the one-volume 1892 is a later edition. Complete three-decker in original cloth is the landmark.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
The one-volume editions and later reissues are not the first; any single-volume copy is later.
I have a first edition of Tess of the d'Urbervilles — 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.