Pamela; or, Virtue Rewarded

Book clubs did not exist in 1740; the equivalent traps are Richardson's own fast-following reissues and 'first thus' printings. His editions ran second 14 February 1741, third 12 March 1741, fourth 5 May 1741, fifth 22 September 1741, and sixth (the illustrated octavo) 8 May 1742 — all carry an edition statement on the title-page. The 1742 four-volume French translation 'Londres: chez Jean Osborne' carries a false London imprint (actually printed in Paris) and is not an English edition despite the Osborn-like name. In practice: plates, an edition statement, or the 'extracts from several curious letters' line each independently disqualify a copy.