The points of issue
Two volumes, Smith, Elder & Co., London, dated 1886 (first edition in book form, published May 1886, in a small printing). Issued in publisher's dark blue cloth blocked in black with gilt spine lettering. Half-title in Volume I; publisher's advertisement leaves at the ends of the volumes, though copies are recorded both with and without ads, so their presence is not a reliable single point.
Is this the true first?
The UK Smith, Elder 1886 two-volume edition is the true first book edition; the US Henry Holt 1886 edition is secondary.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
One-volume reprints and the later Wessex collected edition are not the first.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of The Mayor of Casterbridge a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: Two volumes, Smith, Elder & Co., London, dated 1886 (first edition in book form, published May 1886, in a small printing). Issued in publisher's dark blue cloth blocked in black with gilt spine lettering. Half-title in Volume I; publisher's advertisement leaves at the ends of the volumes, though copies are recorded both with and without ads, so their presence is not a reliable single point.
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 UK Smith, Elder 1886 two-volume edition is the true first book edition; the US Henry Holt 1886 edition is secondary.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
One-volume reprints and the later Wessex collected edition are not the first.
I have a first edition of The Mayor of Casterbridge — 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.