# Is "The Lemon Table" by Julian Barnes a First Edition?

> **Quick answer.** A first edition of The Lemon Table by Julian Barnes (Jonathan Cape, 2004) is identified by: Collection of eleven stories; cloth boards, gilt spine lettering; full number line descending to 1 with Cape 'First published' statement on the copyright page; dust jacket priced 15.99 net. UK Cape (2004) precedes US Knopf (First American Edition, 2004).

**Checklist — a true first has these:**
- Collection of eleven stories; cloth boards, gilt spine lettering; full number line descending to 1 with Cape 'First published' statement on the copyright page; dust jacket priced 15.99 net
- Publisher imprint reads Jonathan Cape
- Not a book-club edition (see below)

| | |
|---|---|
| Author | Julian Barnes |
| Publisher | Jonathan Cape |
| Year | 2004 |
| True first | UK edition |
| Format | Hardcover (trade) |
| Key point | Collection of eleven stories; cloth boards, gilt spine lettering; full number line descending to 1 with Cape 'First published' statement on… |
| Book-club edition exists? | — |

## Points of issue
Collection of eleven stories; cloth boards, gilt spine lettering; full number line descending to 1 with Cape 'First published' statement on the copyright page; dust jacket priced 15.99 net.

## Is this the true first?
UK Cape (2004) precedes US Knopf (First American Edition, 2004).

## Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Reprints state the later impression.

## Source
New Mexico Literacy Project — Is *The Lemon Table* by Julian Barnes a first edition? https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/first-edition/the-lemon-table
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.