# Is "White Teeth" by Zadie Smith a First Edition?

> **Quick answer.** A first edition of White Teeth by Zadie Smith (Hamish Hamilton, 2000) is identified by: Hamish Hamilton, London, 2000, Smith's debut novel; octavo, pagination [xii] + 462 + [6], in publisher's red cloth boards with a decorative dust jacket bearing its printed price. Hamish Hamilton London 2000 is the true first; Random House New York 2000 is the first US and does not precede the London printing.

**Checklist — a true first has these:**
- Hamish Hamilton, London, 2000, Smith's debut novel; octavo, pagination [xii] + 462 + [6], in publisher's red cloth boards with a decorative dust jacket bearing its printed price
- First printing has the full number line descending to 1 on the copyright page
- The debut was a prize magnet (Whitbread First Novel, James Tait Black, Guardian First Book, Commonwealth Writers First Book, Betty Trask)
- Publisher imprint reads Hamish Hamilton
- Not a book-club edition (see below)

| | |
|---|---|
| Author | Zadie Smith |
| Publisher | Hamish Hamilton |
| Year | 2000 |
| True first | US edition |
| Format | Hardcover (trade) |
| Key point | Hamish Hamilton, London, 2000, Smith's debut novel; octavo, pagination [xii] + 462 + [6], in publisher's red cloth boards with a decorative… |
| Book-club edition exists? | Yes |

## Points of issue
Hamish Hamilton, London, 2000, Smith's debut novel; octavo, pagination [xii] + 462 + [6], in publisher's red cloth boards with a decorative dust jacket bearing its printed price. First printing has the full number line descending to 1 on the copyright page. The debut was a prize magnet (Whitbread First Novel, James Tait Black, Guardian First Book, Commonwealth Writers First Book, Betty Trask).

## Is this the true first?
Hamish Hamilton London 2000 is the true first; Random House New York 2000 is the first US and does not precede the London printing. The UK first is the cornerstone.

## Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
A number line not descending to 1 indicates a later impression; the US issue carries the Random House imprint and its own number line. Book-club copies lack the priced jacket.

## Source
New Mexico Literacy Project — Is *White Teeth* by Zadie Smith a first edition? https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/first-edition/white-teeth
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.