# Is "NW" by Zadie Smith a First Edition?

> **Quick answer.** A first edition of NW by Zadie Smith (Hamish Hamilton, 2012) is identified by: London: Hamish Hamilton, 2012. The UK Hamish Hamilton 2012 edition is the true first; the US Penguin Press is the First American Edition and a first-thus.

**Checklist — a true first has these:**
- London: Hamish Hamilton, 2012
- The UK first carries the British Penguin-convention number line 1 3 5 7 9 10 8 6 4 2 (note the included 10), not a descending line ending in 1; a line ending in 1, together with a US dollar price on the front flap, identifies the US Penguin Press edition
- Copyright page states first publication in 2012 by Hamish Hamilton; original boards and sterling-priced unclipped dust jacket (verify the exact figure per copy)
- The UK Hamish Hamilton edition (27 August 2012) precedes the US Penguin Press First American Edition (4 September 2012)
- Publisher imprint reads Hamish Hamilton
- Not a book-club edition (see below)

| | |
|---|---|
| Author | Zadie Smith |
| Publisher | Hamish Hamilton |
| Year | 2012 |
| True first | UK edition |
| Format | Hardcover (trade) |
| Key point | London: Hamish Hamilton, 2012 |
| Book-club edition exists? | No |

## Points of issue
London: Hamish Hamilton, 2012. The UK first carries the British Penguin-convention number line 1 3 5 7 9 10 8 6 4 2 (note the included 10), not a descending line ending in 1; a line ending in 1, together with a US dollar price on the front flap, identifies the US Penguin Press edition. Copyright page states first publication in 2012 by Hamish Hamilton; original boards and sterling-priced unclipped dust jacket (verify the exact figure per copy). The UK Hamish Hamilton edition (27 August 2012) precedes the US Penguin Press First American Edition (4 September 2012).

## Is this the true first?
The UK Hamish Hamilton 2012 edition is the true first; the US Penguin Press is the First American Edition and a first-thus.

## Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
No club edition; distinguish the UK Hamish Hamilton first (number line including 10) from the US Penguin Press printing (line ending in 1, dollar-priced flap).

## Source
New Mexico Literacy Project — Is *NW* by Zadie Smith a first edition? https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/first-edition/nw
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.