The points of issue
Three volumes, Tinsley Brothers, London, 1868 (following serialization in Dickens's All the Year Round). Verified first-issue points: in Volume I, pages 10 and 11 are transposed; Volume II has the misprint 'treachesrouly' for 'treacherously' at page 129; and Volume III shows a broken bracket at the tail of the title-page. Half-titles present in each volume. Original Tinsley cloth.
Is this the true first?
The UK Tinsley Brothers 1868 three-volume edition is the true first, often cited as the first detective novel in English. The Harper US 1868 edition is secondary. The textual states (transposed pages in Vol. I, the 'treachesrouly' misprint in Vol. II at p.129, and the broken bracket on the Vol. III title) are the recognized points.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Corrected and one-volume reprints are later.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of The Moonstone a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: Three volumes, Tinsley Brothers, London, 1868 (following serialization in Dickens's All the Year Round). Verified first-issue points: in Volume I, pages 10 and 11 are transposed; Volume II has the misprint 'treachesrouly' for 'treacherously' at page 129; and Volume III shows a broken bracket at the tail of the title-page. Half-titles present in each volume. Original Tinsley cloth.
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 Tinsley Brothers 1868 three-volume edition is the true first, often cited as the first detective novel in English. The Harper US 1868 edition is secondary. The textual states (transposed pages in Vol. I, the 'treachesrouly' misprint in Vol. II at p.129, and the broken bracket on the Vol. III
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Corrected and one-volume reprints are later.
I have a first edition of The Moonstone — 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.