The points of issue
Three volumes, octavo, 'by Currer Bell', London: Smith, Elder & Co., 1853, printed by Stewart and Murray. The first edition was issued WITHOUT half-titles; the publisher's advertisement catalogue, when present, is dated January 1853 and bound at the end of volume one (some copies lack the catalogue). Standard collation: vol. I [iv], 324; vol. II [iv], 319; vol. III [iv], 350. Original cloth.
Is this the true first?
The London Smith, Elder & Co. 1853 three-decker is the true first edition. The Harper & Brothers New York 1853 edition is the first American and is secondary.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Later one-volume reprints are not the first edition.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Villette a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: Three volumes, octavo, 'by Currer Bell', London: Smith, Elder & Co., 1853, printed by Stewart and Murray. The first edition was issued WITHOUT half-titles; the publisher's advertisement catalogue, when present, is dated January 1853 and bound at the end of volume one (some copies lack the catalogue). Standard collation: vol. I [iv], 324; vol. II [iv], 319; vol. III [iv], 350. Original 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 London Smith, Elder & Co. 1853 three-decker is the true first edition. The Harper & Brothers New York 1853 edition is the first American and is secondary.
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 Villette — 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.