# Is "The Twits" by Roald Dahl a First Edition?

> **Quick answer.** A first edition of The Twits by Roald Dahl (Jonathan Cape, 1980) is identified by: UK Cape first dated 1980 with a single 'First published' statement; publisher's red cloth with gilt spine lettering and a first-issue dust jacket illustrated by Quentin Blake carrying the original printed price. UK Cape true first (1980); US Knopf edition 1981.

**Checklist — a true first has these:**
- UK Cape first dated 1980 with a single 'First published' statement; publisher's red cloth with gilt spine lettering and a first-issue dust jacket illustrated by Quentin Blake carrying the original printed price
- Publisher imprint reads Jonathan Cape
- Not a book-club edition (see below)

| | |
|---|---|
| Author | Roald Dahl |
| Publisher | Jonathan Cape |
| Year | 1980 |
| True first | UK edition |
| Format | Children's / illustrated |
| Key point | UK Cape first dated 1980 with a single 'First published' statement; publisher's red cloth… |
| Book-club edition exists? | Yes |

## Points of issue
UK Cape first dated 1980 with a single 'First published' statement; publisher's red cloth with gilt spine lettering and a first-issue dust jacket illustrated by Quentin Blake carrying the original printed price.

## Is this the true first?
UK Cape true first (1980); US Knopf edition 1981.

## Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Book-club editions lack the printed jacket price and the publisher's issue points.

## Source
New Mexico Literacy Project — Is *The Twits* by Roald Dahl a first edition? https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/first-edition/the-twits
CC BY 4.0. Part of the Canonical First-Edition Points of Issue dataset (https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/api/first-edition-titles.json). Last reviewed 2026-07-03.