# Is "Out of This World" by Graham Swift a First Edition?

> **Quick answer.** A first edition of Out of This World by Graham Swift (Viking, 1988) is identified by: First UK edition, Viking (London), 1988, in cloth-covered boards with gilt spine lettering, issued in a priced dust jacket. UK Viking (March 1988) is the true first, preceding the US Poseidon Press edition (ISBN 0671658271, September 1988).

**Checklist — a true first has these:**
- First UK edition, Viking (London), 1988, in cloth-covered boards with gilt spine lettering, issued in a priced dust jacket
- The printed jacket price should be present; later printings break the number line or state a later impression on the copyright page
- Publisher imprint reads Viking
- Not a book-club edition (see below)

| | |
|---|---|
| Author | Graham Swift |
| Publisher | Viking |
| Year | 1988 |
| True first | UK edition |
| Format | Hardcover (trade) |
| Key point | First UK edition, Viking (London), 1988, in cloth-covered boards with gilt spine lettering, issued in a priced dust jacket |
| Book-club edition exists? | Yes |

## Points of issue
First UK edition, Viking (London), 1988, in cloth-covered boards with gilt spine lettering, issued in a priced dust jacket. The printed jacket price should be present; later printings break the number line or state a later impression on the copyright page.

## Is this the true first?
UK Viking (March 1988) is the true first, preceding the US Poseidon Press edition (ISBN 0671658271, September 1988). The US issue is a distinct book, styled 'First American Edition' on its copyright page with the Poseidon imprint and an American jacket price; do not confuse it with the Viking first.

## Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Book-club issues lack the publisher's printed price and full number line; later impressions are stated on the copyright page.

## Source
New Mexico Literacy Project — Is *Out of This World* by Graham Swift a first edition? https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/first-edition/out-of-this-world
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.