The points of issue
First state has the famous points: p.13 'was' for 'saw' / 'Decided' contents point; the 'curve' caption / Uncle Silas illustration on p.283 in its uncensored (vulgar) state; p.155 'with the saw'; final 'the printed price' / 'Him and another Man' caption listed as p.88 in contents but plate at p.87. The defective 'b' in 'Tom Sawyer' on p.[9].
Is this the true first?
US Webster 1885 is the true first; UK (Chatto & Windus, 1884) actually precedes in date but the US is the canonical collected first with the point system. The altered Uncle Silas plate (the obscene state) is the headline first-state point. Twain-signed/limited copies are association apex.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Later states correct the Uncle Silas plate and the contents/page points; the corrected plate and corrected 'was/saw' indicate a later state, not the first.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: First state has the famous points: p.13 'was' for 'saw' / 'Decided' contents point; the 'curve' caption / Uncle Silas illustration on p.283 in its uncensored (vulgar) state; p.155 'with the saw'; final 'the printed price' / 'Him and another Man' caption listed as p.88 in contents but plate at p.87. The defective 'b' in 'Tom Sawyer' on p.[9].
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. US Webster 1885 is the true first; UK (Chatto & Windus, 1884) actually precedes in date but the US is the canonical collected first with the point system. The altered Uncle Silas plate (the obscene state) is the headline first-state point. Twain-signed/limited copies are association apex.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Later states correct the Uncle Silas plate and the contents/page points; the corrected plate and corrected 'was/saw' indicate a later state, not the first.
I have a first edition of The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn — 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.