# Is "Orbital" by Samantha Harvey a First Edition?

> **Quick answer.** A first edition of Orbital by Samantha Harvey (Jonathan Cape, 2023) is identified by: First UK edition, Jonathan Cape, 2 November 2023, with 'First published by Jonathan Cape 2023' on the verso and a number line ending in 1 on the first printing; original boards in dust jacket, first-state jacket without a Booker band. The UK Cape edition (2 November 2023) is the true first and precedes the US Atlantic Monthly Press / Grove edition (5 December 2023, not 2024).

**Checklist — a true first has these:**
- First UK edition, Jonathan Cape, 2 November 2023, with 'First published by Jonathan Cape 2023' on the verso and a number line ending in 1 on the first printing; original boards in dust jacket, first-state jacket without a Booker band
- The US edition (Atlantic Monthly Press / Grove Atlantic) followed 5 December 2023
- 2024 Booker winner
- Publisher imprint reads Jonathan Cape
- Not a book-club edition (see below)

| | |
|---|---|
| Author | Samantha Harvey |
| Publisher | Jonathan Cape |
| Year | 2023 |
| True first | UK edition |
| Format | Hardcover (trade) |
| Key point | First UK edition, Jonathan Cape, 2 November 2023, with 'First published by Jonathan Cape 2023' on the verso and a number line ending in 1… |
| Book-club edition exists? | — |

## Points of issue
First UK edition, Jonathan Cape, 2 November 2023, with 'First published by Jonathan Cape 2023' on the verso and a number line ending in 1 on the first printing; original boards in dust jacket, first-state jacket without a Booker band. The US edition (Atlantic Monthly Press / Grove Atlantic) followed 5 December 2023. 2024 Booker winner.

## Is this the true first?
The UK Cape edition (2 November 2023) is the true first and precedes the US Atlantic Monthly Press / Grove edition (5 December 2023, not 2024). The first printing with a pre-Booker jacket is the most desirable state; signed firsts exist.

## Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
The US Grove edition is distinguished by imprint; later Cape printings add a Booker band and state additional impressions. The first is told by the number line ending in 1.

## Source
New Mexico Literacy Project — Is *Orbital* by Samantha Harvey a first edition? https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/first-edition/orbital
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.