# Is "The Bell" by Iris Murdoch a First Edition?

> **Quick answer.** A first edition of The Bell by Iris Murdoch (Chatto & Windus, 1958) is identified by: London: Chatto & Windus, 1958 (Murdoch's fourth novel). UK Chatto & Windus (1958) precedes the US Viking edition (also 1958).

**Checklist — a true first has these:**
- London: Chatto & Windus, 1958 (Murdoch's fourth novel)
- Green cloth boards with gilt spine lettering; first-issue dust jacket designed by Charles Mozley and with its printed price on the front flap
- First edition, first impression
- Publisher imprint reads Chatto & Windus
- Not a book-club edition (see below)

| | |
|---|---|
| Author | Iris Murdoch |
| Publisher | Chatto & Windus |
| Year | 1958 |
| True first | UK edition |
| Format | Hardcover (trade) |
| Key point | London: Chatto & Windus, 1958 (Murdoch's fourth novel) |
| Book-club edition exists? | — |

## Points of issue
London: Chatto & Windus, 1958 (Murdoch's fourth novel). Green cloth boards with gilt spine lettering; first-issue dust jacket designed by Charles Mozley and with its printed price on the front flap. First edition, first impression.

## Is this the true first?
UK Chatto & Windus (1958) precedes the US Viking edition (also 1958).

## Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Later impressions add printing statements. Confirm a first by the printed price jacket price (unclipped) and the absence of any later impression line.

## Source
New Mexico Literacy Project — Is *The Bell* by Iris Murdoch a first edition? https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/first-edition/the-bell
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.