# Is "On Beauty" by Zadie Smith a First Edition?

> **Quick answer.** A first edition of On Beauty by Zadie Smith (Hamish Hamilton, 2005) is identified by: London: Hamish Hamilton, 2005. The UK Hamish Hamilton 2005 edition is the true first; the US Penguin Press is a first-thus.

**Checklist — a true first has these:**
- London: Hamish Hamilton, 2005
- Copyright page states first publication in 2005 by Hamish Hamilton, with the full publisher number line present on the first impression
- Original boards and dust jacket
- Orange Prize winner
- Booker-shortlisted
- The UK Hamish Hamilton edition precedes the US Penguin Press edition of 2005
- Publisher imprint reads Hamish Hamilton

| | |
|---|---|
| Author | Zadie Smith |
| Publisher | Hamish Hamilton |
| Year | 2005 |
| True first | UK edition |
| Format | Hardcover (trade) |
| Key point | London: Hamish Hamilton, 2005 |
| Book-club edition exists? | No |

## Points of issue
London: Hamish Hamilton, 2005. Copyright page states first publication in 2005 by Hamish Hamilton, with the full publisher number line present on the first impression. Original boards and dust jacket. Orange Prize winner; Booker-shortlisted. The UK Hamish Hamilton edition precedes the US Penguin Press edition of 2005.

## Is this the true first?
The UK Hamish Hamilton 2005 edition is the true first; the US Penguin Press is a first-thus.

## Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
No major club edition; confirm the UK Hamish Hamilton imprint and stated first-publication line against the US Penguin Press printing.

## Source
New Mexico Literacy Project — Is *On Beauty* by Zadie Smith a first edition? https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/first-edition/on-beauty
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.