# Is "Utopia Avenue" by David Mitchell a First Edition?

> **Quick answer.** A first edition of Utopia Avenue by David Mitchell (Sceptre, 2020) is identified by: Sceptre (Hodder & Stoughton), London, published 14 July 2020. UK Sceptre (14 July 2020) precedes the US Random House edition, which followed later in 2020.

**Checklist — a true first has these:**
- Sceptre (Hodder & Stoughton), London, published 14 July 2020
- Octavo, publisher's yellow paper-covered boards with the title stamped in black to the spine, and photographic endpapers; first printing identified by a complete number line ending in 1
- The dust jacket was designed by Made Up and carries the publisher's printed price, which should be present and unclipped
- Collation approximately [6], 561, [9] pages
- ISBN 9781444799422
- Publisher imprint reads Sceptre
- Not a book-club edition (see below)

| | |
|---|---|
| Author | David Mitchell |
| Publisher | Sceptre |
| Year | 2020 |
| True first | UK edition |
| Format | Hardcover (trade) |
| Key point | Sceptre (Hodder & Stoughton), London, published 14 July 2020 |
| Book-club edition exists? | — |

## Points of issue
Sceptre (Hodder & Stoughton), London, published 14 July 2020. Octavo, publisher's yellow paper-covered boards with the title stamped in black to the spine, and photographic endpapers; first printing identified by a complete number line ending in 1. The dust jacket was designed by Made Up and carries the publisher's printed price, which should be present and unclipped. Collation approximately [6], 561, [9] pages; ISBN 9781444799422.

## Is this the true first?
UK Sceptre (14 July 2020) precedes the US Random House edition, which followed later in 2020.

## Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Later printings carry an impression statement and the number line no longer ends in 1; a signed limited issue with a tipped-in 'signed edition' leaf also exists and is identified by that leaf.

## Source
New Mexico Literacy Project — Is *Utopia Avenue* by David Mitchell a first edition? https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/first-edition/utopia-avenue
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.