The points of issue
UK Jonathan Cape 2014, fawn boards with spine titled in black; complete number line on the copyright page ending in 1; jacket art by Chris Wormell after Sir William Nicholson, with original unclipped price on the first-state jacket.
Is this the true first?
UK Jonathan Cape (London) is the true first, 2014; the US Grove Press edition followed in 2015. Won the Samuel Johnson Prize and the Costa Book of the Year.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
The US Grove edition (2015) is not the true first; the UK Cape 2014 printing has precedence and is identified by the full number line to 1.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of H Is for Hawk a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: UK Jonathan Cape 2014, fawn boards with spine titled in black; complete number line on the copyright page ending in 1; jacket art by Chris Wormell after Sir William Nicholson, with original unclipped price on the first-state jacket.
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. UK Jonathan Cape (London) is the true first, 2014; the US Grove Press edition followed in 2015. Won the Samuel Johnson Prize and the Costa Book of the Year.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
The US Grove edition (2015) is not the true first; the UK Cape 2014 printing has precedence and is identified by the full number line to 1.
I have a first edition of H Is for Hawk — 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.