# Is "A Brand New Life" by James T. Farrell a First Edition?

> **Quick answer.** A first edition of A Brand New Life by James T. Farrell (Doubleday & Company, 1968) is identified by: "First Edition" stated on the copyright page of the Doubleday & Company printing. US first edition; part of Farrell's later 'A Universe of Time' sequence.

**Checklist — a true first has these:**
- "First Edition" stated on the copyright page of the Doubleday & Company printing
- Issued in original red cloth with the spine titling stamped in black over grey endpapers, collating to 371, [372] pages
- The first-issue dust jacket should retain its printed price on the front flap
- Publisher imprint reads Doubleday & Company
- Not a book-club edition (see below)

| | |
|---|---|
| Author | James T. Farrell |
| Publisher | Doubleday & Company |
| Year | 1968 |
| True first | US edition |
| Format | Hardcover (trade) |
| Key point | "First Edition" stated on the copyright page of the Doubleday & Company printing |
| Book-club edition exists? | — |

## Points of issue
"First Edition" stated on the copyright page of the Doubleday & Company printing. Issued in original red cloth with the spine titling stamped in black over grey endpapers, collating to 371, [372] pages. The first-issue dust jacket should retain its printed price on the front flap.

## Is this the true first?
US first edition; part of Farrell's later 'A Universe of Time' sequence.

## Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Later printings drop the "First Edition" statement.

## Source
New Mexico Literacy Project — Is *A Brand New Life* by James T. Farrell a first edition? https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/first-edition/a-brand-new-life
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.