# Is "The Master of Ballantrae" by Robert Louis Stevenson a First Edition?

> **Quick answer.** A first edition of The Master of Ballantrae by Robert Louis Stevenson (Cassell & Co., 1889) is identified by: First published in book form by Cassell & Co. Charles Scribner's Sons issued the authorized American edition in New York at nearly the same time; the July-1889-dated Cassell London issue is generally treated as the primary first edition, with Scribner's following within weeks.

**Checklist — a true first has these:**
- First published in book form by Cassell & Co. in the autumn of 1889, after serialization in Scribner's Magazine (November 1888-October 1889)
- The first issue carries 20 pages of publisher's advertisements at the rear dated July 1889, bound in the publisher's original red cloth stamped in black on the front and rear panels and in black and gilt on the spine
- An early-issue textual point is the dropped 'l' from 'should' in the footnote on page 41
- Publisher imprint reads Cassell & Co.
- Not a book-club edition (see below)

| | |
|---|---|
| Author | Robert Louis Stevenson |
| Publisher | Cassell & Co. |
| Year | 1889 |
| True first | American edition |
| Format | Hardcover (trade) |
| Key point | First published in book form by Cassell & Co. in the autumn of 1889, after serialization in Scribner's Magazine (November 1888-October 1889) |
| Book-club edition exists? | — |

## Points of issue
First published in book form by Cassell & Co. in the autumn of 1889, after serialization in Scribner's Magazine (November 1888-October 1889). The first issue carries 20 pages of publisher's advertisements at the rear dated July 1889, bound in the publisher's original red cloth stamped in black on the front and rear panels and in black and gilt on the spine. An early-issue textual point is the dropped 'l' from 'should' in the footnote on page 41.

## Is this the true first?
Charles Scribner's Sons issued the authorized American edition in New York at nearly the same time; the July-1889-dated Cassell London issue is generally treated as the primary first edition, with Scribner's following within weeks.

## Source
New Mexico Literacy Project — Is *The Master of Ballantrae* by Robert Louis Stevenson a first edition? https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/first-edition/the-master-of-ballantrae
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.