# Is "Vivian Grey" by Benjamin Disraeli a First Edition?

> **Quick answer.** A first edition of Vivian Grey by Benjamin Disraeli (Henry Colburn, 1826) is identified by: First edition (Sadleir 734), published anonymously in five volumes across two parts: Part I (volumes 1-2, four books) appeared 22 April 1826, and Part II (volumes 3-5, four further books) followed on 23 February 1827. Because Part I proved an immediate sensation and was reprinted within its first year, genuine first-edition sets require volumes 1-2 in the true first printing (Sadleir 734); Sadleir separately records a second printing of the early volumes (735) bearing 'New Edition' on the title pages and 'Second Edition' on the spine labels, and sets mixing these reprinted volumes 1-2 with first-edition volumes 3-5 are commonly encountered in the trade.

**Checklist — a true first has these:**
- First edition (Sadleir 734), published anonymously in five volumes across two parts: Part I (volumes 1-2, four books) appeared 22 April 1826, and Part II (volumes 3-5, four further books) followed on 23 February 1827
- Original issue was octavo in paper boards with a printed paper spine label; half-titles are present in volumes 2 and 5 as issued, with terminal advertisement leaves in volumes 1 through 4
- Published anonymously and purportedly written by a 'man of fashion,' Part I caused a considerable stir in London society and went through further printings within its first year
- Publisher imprint reads Henry Colburn
- Not a book-club edition (see below)

| | |
|---|---|
| Author | Benjamin Disraeli |
| Publisher | Henry Colburn |
| Year | 1826 |
| True first | — |
| Format | Hardcover (trade) |
| Key point | First edition (Sadleir 734), published anonymously in five volumes across two parts: Part I (volumes 1-2, four books) appeared 22 April… |
| Book-club edition exists? | — |

## Points of issue
First edition (Sadleir 734), published anonymously in five volumes across two parts: Part I (volumes 1-2, four books) appeared 22 April 1826, and Part II (volumes 3-5, four further books) followed on 23 February 1827. Original issue was octavo in paper boards with a printed paper spine label; half-titles are present in volumes 2 and 5 as issued, with terminal advertisement leaves in volumes 1 through 4. Published anonymously and purportedly written by a 'man of fashion,' Part I caused a considerable stir in London society and went through further printings within its first year.

## Is this the true first?
Because Part I proved an immediate sensation and was reprinted within its first year, genuine first-edition sets require volumes 1-2 in the true first printing (Sadleir 734); Sadleir separately records a second printing of the early volumes (735) bearing 'New Edition' on the title pages and 'Second Edition' on the spine labels, and sets mixing these reprinted volumes 1-2 with first-edition volumes 3-5 are commonly encountered in the trade.

## Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Disraeli substantially revised the novel for a new edition published in 1853 (prepared with his sister Sarah's help), softening the satirical treatment of real figures such as publisher John Murray -- the model for the Marquess of Carabas -- and other material he came to regard as the excesses of his youth; most modern reprints derive from this revised 1853 text rather than the original 1826-27 first edition.

## Source
New Mexico Literacy Project — Is *Vivian Grey* by Benjamin Disraeli a first edition? https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/first-edition/vivian-grey
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.