# Is "Shame" by Salman Rushdie a First Edition?

> **Quick answer.** A first edition of Shame by Salman Rushdie (Jonathan Cape, 1983) is identified by: London: Jonathan Cape, 1983. The UK Jonathan Cape edition (1983) is the true first, preceding the US Alfred A.

**Checklist — a true first has these:**
- London: Jonathan Cape, 1983
- Rushdie's third novel
- Black boards lettered in gilt on the spine; textured-paper dust jacket designed by Mon Mohan, priced to the flap and unclipped
- Title page states 'First published 1983'
- Shortlisted for the Booker Prize
- Publisher imprint reads Jonathan Cape
- Not a book-club edition (see below)

| | |
|---|---|
| Author | Salman Rushdie |
| Publisher | Jonathan Cape |
| Year | 1983 |
| True first | UK edition |
| Format | Hardcover (trade) |
| Key point | London: Jonathan Cape, 1983 |
| Book-club edition exists? | — |

## Points of issue
London: Jonathan Cape, 1983. Rushdie's third novel. Black boards lettered in gilt on the spine; textured-paper dust jacket designed by Mon Mohan, priced to the flap and unclipped. Title page states 'First published 1983'. Shortlisted for the Booker Prize.

## Is this the true first?
The UK Jonathan Cape edition (1983) is the true first, preceding the US Alfred A. Knopf edition (also 1983).

## Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Later impressions add printing/impression statements; first printing carries only 'First published 1983'.

## Source
New Mexico Literacy Project — Is *Shame* by Salman Rushdie a first edition? https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/first-edition/shame
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.