The Bell Jar
by Sylvia Plath
The Bell Jar is the only novel by Sylvia Plath, first published by Heinemann in the UK on 14 January 1963 under the pseudonym Victoria Lucas, a month before her death. The first US edition followed in 1971. It follows Esther Greenwood, a college student whose New York internship ends in breakdown.
- Editions tracked
- 1
- First edition
- Heinemann, 1963
- First published
- Heinemann, United Kingdom, 1963
- Worth
- Not yet valued
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First edition
- 1st Heinemann1963 Hardback Not yet valued Log in to want this
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How to Identify a First Edition
To identify a first edition, check that your copy is the first printing of the first edition. Read the copyright …
Read the guide →6 min readBook Condition Grading: Fine to Poor Explained
Book condition grading uses a six-step trade scale: Fine, Near Fine, Very Good, Good, Fair and Poor. Collectors grade the …
Read the guide →7 min readDust Jackets Explained: Why the Jacket Drives a Book's Value
For most books published since the 1920s, the original dust jacket carries a large share of the value, often most …
Read the guide →Frequently asked questions
Who published the first edition of The Bell Jar?
The first edition of The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath was published in London, England by Heinemann in 1963.
How many editions of The Bell Jar are there?
We track 1 edition of The Bell Jar, including 1 first edition. Each has its own page with how to identify it.
How can I tell if my copy of The Bell Jar is a first edition?
Check the title page and its reverse (the copyright page) against the edition: publisher, place and date should match, with no later printing or edition stated. Where we know the issue points, they are listed on the edition's page.
Where these facts come from
- The Bell Jar, Wikipedia (en.wikipedia.org)
- Plath, Sylvia. The Bell Jar, first edition, Heinemann, 1963, Bonhams, 2016 (bonhams.com)
Every fact on this page was checked against the sources listed. Checked 17 October 2026.