# Is "A Number" by Caryl Churchill a First Edition?

> **Quick answer.** A first edition of A Number by Caryl Churchill (Nick Hern Books, 2002) is identified by: Trade softcover in wrappers, issued flat (no hardcover was published); Nick Hern Books, London, 2002, in the NHB Modern Plays series, ISBN 1-85459-709-4 (9781854597090). The UK Nick Hern Books wrappered first (ISBN 1-85459-709-4) is the true first.

**Checklist — a true first has these:**
- Trade softcover in wrappers, issued flat (no hardcover was published)
- Nick Hern Books, London, 2002, in the NHB Modern Plays series, ISBN 1-85459-709-4
- Published to coincide with the Royal Court Theatre (Jerwood Theatre Downstairs) premiere directed by Stephen Daldry with Michael Gambon and Daniel Craig
- First-issue copies carry the -709-4 ISBN on the copyright page and back cover; the play won the 2002 Evening Standard Award for Best Play
- Publisher imprint reads Nick Hern Books
- Not a book-club edition (see below)

| | |
|---|---|
| Author | Caryl Churchill |
| Publisher | Nick Hern Books |
| Year | 2002 |
| True first | UK edition |
| Format | Hardcover (trade) |
| Key point | Trade softcover in wrappers, issued flat (no hardcover was published) |
| Book-club edition exists? | Yes |

## Points of issue
Trade softcover in wrappers, issued flat (no hardcover was published); Nick Hern Books, London, 2002, in the NHB Modern Plays series, ISBN 1-85459-709-4 (9781854597090). Published to coincide with the Royal Court Theatre (Jerwood Theatre Downstairs) premiere directed by Stephen Daldry with Michael Gambon and Daniel Craig. First-issue copies carry the -709-4 ISBN on the copyright page and back cover; the play won the 2002 Evening Standard Award for Best Play.

## Is this the true first?
The UK Nick Hern Books wrappered first (ISBN 1-85459-709-4) is the true first. A later NHB reissue appeared under a new ISBN, 1-85459-743-4 (9781854597434), and is a subsequent state; the US Theatre Communications Group edition (ISBN 1-55936-225-1) is later still.

## Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
No book club edition exists; Nick Hern Books play texts are trade softcovers only. Distinguish the true first from the later NHB reissue by the -709-4 rather than -743-4 ISBN.

## Source
New Mexico Literacy Project — Is *A Number* by Caryl Churchill a first edition? https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/first-edition/a-number
CC BY 4.0. Part of the Canonical First-Edition Points of Issue dataset (https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/api/first-edition-titles.json). Last reviewed 2026-07-03.