# Is "Languages of Truth: Essays 2003–2020" by Salman Rushdie a First Edition?

> **Quick answer.** A first edition of Languages of Truth: Essays 2003–2020 by Salman Rushdie (Jonathan Cape, 2021) is identified by: Essay collection issued by Jonathan Cape in original black paper-covered boards with gilt titling to the spine and orange endpapers; the full number line ending in 1 appears on the copyright page. UK Jonathan Cape (2021) and US Random House (ISBN 9780593133170, 2021) appeared the same year; the Cape printing is the standard UK first.

**Checklist — a true first has these:**
- Essay collection issued by Jonathan Cape in original black paper-covered boards with gilt titling to the spine and orange endpapers; the full number line ending in 1 appears on the copyright page
- ISBN 9781787331938
- Published May 2021
- The original dust jacket carries the printed price on the front flap
- Publisher imprint reads Jonathan Cape
- Not a book-club edition (see below)

| | |
|---|---|
| Author | Salman Rushdie |
| Publisher | Jonathan Cape |
| Year | 2021 |
| True first | UK edition |
| Format | Hardcover (trade) |
| Key point | Essay collection issued by Jonathan Cape in original black paper-covered boards with gilt titling to the spine and orange endpapers; the… |
| Book-club edition exists? | Yes |

## Points of issue
Essay collection issued by Jonathan Cape in original black paper-covered boards with gilt titling to the spine and orange endpapers; the full number line ending in 1 appears on the copyright page. ISBN 9781787331938. Published May 2021. The original dust jacket carries the printed price on the front flap.

## Is this the true first?
UK Jonathan Cape (2021) and US Random House (ISBN 9780593133170, 2021) appeared the same year; the Cape printing is the standard UK first.

## Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Later impressions are identified by an altered number line; no book-club edition of note.

## Source
New Mexico Literacy Project — Is *Languages of Truth: Essays 2003–2020* by Salman Rushdie a first edition? https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/first-edition/languages-of-truth-essays-2003-2020
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.