# Is "Machines Like Me" by Ian McEwan a First Edition?

> **Quick answer.** A first edition of Machines Like Me by Ian McEwan (Jonathan Cape, 2019) is identified by: Jonathan Cape (London), 2019. The UK Jonathan Cape edition (2019) precedes the US Nan A.

**Checklist — a true first has these:**
- Jonathan Cape (London), 2019
- Bound in blue boards with the title stamped in silver on the spine, with blue endpapers
- First impression carries a full number line descending to 1 (10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1) on the copyright page
- The dust jacket was designed by Suzanne Dean and should retain its printed price on the flap (unclipped)
- ISBN 9781787331662
- Publisher imprint reads Jonathan Cape
- Not a book-club edition (see below)

| | |
|---|---|
| Author | Ian McEwan |
| Publisher | Jonathan Cape |
| Year | 2019 |
| True first | UK edition |
| Format | Hardcover (trade) |
| Key point | Jonathan Cape (London), 2019 |
| Book-club edition exists? | — |

## Points of issue
Jonathan Cape (London), 2019. Bound in blue boards with the title stamped in silver on the spine, with blue endpapers. First impression carries a full number line descending to 1 (10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1) on the copyright page. The dust jacket was designed by Suzanne Dean and should retain its printed price on the flap (unclipped). ISBN 9781787331662.

## Is this the true first?
The UK Jonathan Cape edition (2019) precedes the US Nan A. Talese/Doubleday edition (2019).

## Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Later impressions state the impression number in place of the 1 in the number line.

## Source
New Mexico Literacy Project — Is *Machines Like Me* by Ian McEwan a first edition? https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/first-edition/machines-like-me
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.