# Is "There but for the" by Ali Smith a First Edition?

> **Quick answer.** A first edition of There but for the by Ali Smith (Hamish Hamilton, 2011) is identified by: Hardback in boards with gilt spine lettering, in dust jacket. The UK Hamish Hamilton edition of 2011 (June) is the true first, preceding the US Pantheon edition, which was published in September 2011.

**Checklist — a true first has these:**
- Hardback in boards with gilt spine lettering, in dust jacket
- First impression carries a complete number line ending in 1
- Note the title is intentionally rendered without a final word, a deliberate authorial device rather than a printing error
- Publisher imprint reads Hamish Hamilton
- Not a book-club edition (see below)

| | |
|---|---|
| Author | Ali Smith |
| Publisher | Hamish Hamilton |
| Year | 2011 |
| True first | UK edition |
| Format | Hardcover (trade) |
| Key point | Hardback in boards with gilt spine lettering, in dust jacket |
| Book-club edition exists? | — |

## Points of issue
Hardback in boards with gilt spine lettering, in dust jacket. First impression carries a complete number line ending in 1. Note the title is intentionally rendered without a final word, a deliberate authorial device rather than a printing error.

## Is this the true first?
The UK Hamish Hamilton edition of 2011 (June) is the true first, preceding the US Pantheon edition, which was published in September 2011.

## Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Later impressions are indicated by a number line that no longer ends in 1.

## Source
New Mexico Literacy Project — Is *There but for the* by Ali Smith a first edition? https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/first-edition/there-but-for-the
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.