# Is "Spring" by Ali Smith a First Edition?

> **Quick answer.** A first edition of Spring by Ali Smith (Hamish Hamilton, 2019) is identified by: Hamish Hamilton, London, 2019, third volume of the Seasonal Quartet, published 28 March 2019. UK Hamish Hamilton (March 2019) precedes the US Pantheon edition (2019).

**Checklist — a true first has these:**
- Hamish Hamilton, London, 2019, third volume of the Seasonal Quartet, published 28 March 2019
- Green boards with gilt spine lettering; a full number line descending to 1 on the copyright page marks the first printing
- The first-state dust jacket carries a David Hockney illustration and should retain its printed price; copies were issued with a printed promotional wraparound band
- Publisher imprint reads Hamish Hamilton
- Not a book-club edition (see below)

| | |
|---|---|
| Author | Ali Smith |
| Publisher | Hamish Hamilton |
| Year | 2019 |
| True first | UK edition |
| Format | Hardcover (trade) |
| Key point | Hamish Hamilton, London, 2019, third volume of the Seasonal Quartet, published 28 March 2019 |
| Book-club edition exists? | — |

## Points of issue
Hamish Hamilton, London, 2019, third volume of the Seasonal Quartet, published 28 March 2019. Green boards with gilt spine lettering; a full number line descending to 1 on the copyright page marks the first printing. The first-state dust jacket carries a David Hockney illustration and should retain its printed price; copies were issued with a printed promotional wraparound band.

## Is this the true first?
UK Hamish Hamilton (March 2019) precedes the US Pantheon edition (2019).

## Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Later impressions state the impression number on the copyright page rather than showing the full line to 1.

## Source
New Mexico Literacy Project — Is *Spring* by Ali Smith a first edition? https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/first-edition/spring
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.