The points of issue
First American edition in two volumes, publisher's cloth, 1860. The true first American is issued WITHOUT the appended explanatory Conclusion (called the Postscript in the English line), which Hawthorne added shortly afterward to answer readers' questions; in the first printing Volume II ends without that Conclusion. Presence or absence of the appended Conclusion and the rear ad catalogue help fix the printing.
Is this the true first?
Precedence by date belongs to the London Smith, Elder three-volume edition titled 'Transformation; or, The Romance of Monte Beni' (early 1860), which preceded the Boston Ticknor & Fields 'The Marble Faun' (two volumes, 1860). The American first lacks the added Conclusion, which appears in later printings of both lines.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Single-volume and later printings postdate the two-volume first; the English title 'Transformation' identifies the UK line.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of The Marble Faun; or, The Romance of Monte Beni a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: First American edition in two volumes, publisher's cloth, 1860. The true first American is issued WITHOUT the appended explanatory Conclusion (called the Postscript in the English line), which Hawthorne added shortly afterward to answer readers' questions; in the first printing Volume II ends without that Conclusion. Presence or absence of the appended Conclusion and the rear ad catalogue help fix the printing.
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. Precedence by date belongs to the London Smith, Elder three-volume edition titled 'Transformation; or, The Romance of Monte Beni' (early 1860), which preceded the Boston Ticknor & Fields 'The Marble Faun' (two volumes, 1860). The American first lacks the added Conclusion, which appears in later prin
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Single-volume and later printings postdate the two-volume first; the English title 'Transformation' identifies the UK line.
I have a first edition of The Marble Faun; or, The Romance of Monte Beni — 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.