# Is "The Genetic Book of the Dead" by Richard Dawkins a First Edition?

> **Quick answer.** A first edition of The Genetic Book of the Dead by Richard Dawkins (Head of Zeus, 2024) is identified by: Head of Zeus (UK) first printing, published October 2024, hardcover in a priced dust jacket; subtitle 'A Darwinian Reverie.' Lavishly illustrated with photographs and artwork by Jana Lenzova (illustrator of Dawkins's Flights of Fancy). UK true first (Head of Zeus, 2024); this is the earliest edition, published from world all-language rights acquired directly from the author.

**Checklist — a true first has these:**
- Head of Zeus (UK) first printing, published October 2024, hardcover in a priced dust jacket; subtitle 'A Darwinian Reverie.' Lavishly illustrated with photographs and artwork by Jana Lenzova (illustrator of Dawkins's Flights of Fancy)
- A number line printed on the copyright page indicates the printing; the first printing carries no later-printing statement
- Publisher imprint reads Head of Zeus
- Not a book-club edition (see below)

| | |
|---|---|
| Author | Richard Dawkins |
| Publisher | Head of Zeus |
| Year | 2024 |
| True first | UK edition |
| Format | Hardcover (trade) |
| Key point | Head of Zeus (UK) first printing, published October 2024, hardcover in a priced dust jacket; subtitle 'A Darwinian Reverie.' Lavishly… |
| Book-club edition exists? | No |

## Points of issue
Head of Zeus (UK) first printing, published October 2024, hardcover in a priced dust jacket; subtitle 'A Darwinian Reverie.' Lavishly illustrated with photographs and artwork by Jana Lenzova (illustrator of Dawkins's Flights of Fancy). A number line printed on the copyright page indicates the printing; the first printing carries no later-printing statement.

## Is this the true first?
UK true first (Head of Zeus, 2024); this is the earliest edition, published from world all-language rights acquired directly from the author.

## Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
No book club edition.

## Source
New Mexico Literacy Project — Is *The Genetic Book of the Dead* by Richard Dawkins a first edition? https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/first-edition/the-genetic-book-of-the-dead
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.