# Is "My Uncle Oswald" by Roald Dahl a First Edition?

> **Quick answer.** A first edition of My Uncle Oswald by Roald Dahl (Michael Joseph, 1979) is identified by: UK Michael Joseph first dated 1979 with a single 'First published' statement and no later-printing notice; first-issue dust jacket carries the original printed price. UK Michael Joseph true first (1979); US Knopf edition 1980.

**Checklist — a true first has these:**
- UK Michael Joseph first dated 1979 with a single 'First published' statement and no later-printing notice; first-issue dust jacket carries the original printed price
- Dahl's first adult novel
- Publisher imprint reads Michael Joseph
- Not a book-club edition (see below)

| | |
|---|---|
| Author | Roald Dahl |
| Publisher | Michael Joseph |
| Year | 1979 |
| True first | UK edition |
| Format | Children's / illustrated |
| Key point | UK Michael Joseph first dated 1979 with a single 'First published' statement and no… |
| Book-club edition exists? | Yes |

## Points of issue
UK Michael Joseph first dated 1979 with a single 'First published' statement and no later-printing notice; first-issue dust jacket carries the original printed price. Dahl's first adult novel.

## Is this the true first?
UK Michael Joseph true first (1979); US Knopf edition 1980.

## Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Book-club editions lack the printed jacket price and the single-statement issue points.

## Source
New Mexico Literacy Project — Is *My Uncle Oswald* by Roald Dahl a first edition? https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/first-edition/my-uncle-oswald
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.