# Is "Wish You Were Here" by Graham Swift a First Edition?

> **Quick answer.** A first edition of Wish You Were Here by Graham Swift (Picador, 2011) is identified by: First edition, first impression in red cloth-covered boards with gilt spine lettering, issued in the original unclipped dust jacket carrying the printed UK price on the inner flap. The UK Picador edition (2011) is the true first, preceding the US Alfred A.

**Checklist — a true first has these:**
- First edition, first impression in red cloth-covered boards with gilt spine lettering, issued in the original unclipped dust jacket carrying the printed UK price on the inner flap
- Identified by a complete number line descending to 1 on the copyright page
- Published by Picador, London, 2011
- Publisher imprint reads Picador
- Not a book-club edition (see below)

| | |
|---|---|
| Author | Graham Swift |
| Publisher | Picador |
| Year | 2011 |
| True first | UK edition |
| Format | Hardcover (trade) |
| Key point | First edition, first impression in red cloth-covered boards with gilt spine lettering, issued in the original unclipped dust jacket… |
| Book-club edition exists? | Yes |

## Points of issue
First edition, first impression in red cloth-covered boards with gilt spine lettering, issued in the original unclipped dust jacket carrying the printed UK price on the inner flap. Identified by a complete number line descending to 1 on the copyright page. Published by Picador, London, 2011.

## Is this the true first?
The UK Picador edition (2011) is the true first, preceding the US Alfred A. Knopf edition of 2012.

## Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Later impressions are stated on the copyright page and the number line is reduced accordingly; this title was issued as a trade hardback, not through a book club.

## Source
New Mexico Literacy Project — Is *Wish You Were Here* by Graham Swift a first edition? https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/first-edition/wish-you-were-here
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.