The points of issue
Three volumes, printed in antique/old-face type to evoke the early eighteenth century, with sixteen pages of publisher's advertisements at the rear of Volume III; issued in publisher's cloth. The antique-type setting is original to this first edition (cited in Thackeray bibliography as Van Duzer 85).
Is this the true first?
The Smith, Elder three-volume edition of 1852 is the true first, with the distinctive antique-type setting and the sixteen-page advertisement section in Volume III.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Later one-volume reprints are not the first edition.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of The History of Henry Esmond a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: Three volumes, printed in antique/old-face type to evoke the early eighteenth century, with sixteen pages of publisher's advertisements at the rear of Volume III; issued in publisher's cloth. The antique-type setting is original to this first edition (cited in Thackeray bibliography as Van Duzer 85).
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 Smith, Elder three-volume edition of 1852 is the true first, with the distinctive antique-type setting and the sixteen-page advertisement section in Volume III.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Later one-volume reprints are not the first edition.
I have a first edition of The History of Henry Esmond — 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.