Neil Simon First Editions

• Come Blow Your Horn — 1963 · DoubledayCloth in dust jacket priced on the front flap; Doubleday, 1963 on the title page. Simon's first published play. First printing shows the Doubleday gutter code 'E5' at the foot of page 135 (E indicating the 1963 printing year). US Doubleday edition is the true first; the diagnostic first-printing point is the 'E5' gutter code on page 135 together with the 1963 title page and the priced jacket. Book-club copies lack the priced jacket and the 'E5' gutter code and typically carry a blindstamp to the rear board; some also bear a 'Book Club Edition' notation.
• Barefoot in the Park — 1964 · Random HouseCloth-backed boards in pictorial dust jacket; Random House, 1964, with 'First Printing' stated on the copyright page (removed on later printings). Photo-illustrated title spread and plates of the original cast. US Random House edition is the true first, identified by the 'First Printing' statement on the copyright page. Book-club issue lacks the copyright-page 'First Printing' statement and the priced jacket, and often carries a blindstamp to the rear board.
• The Odd Couple — 1966 · Random HouseQuarter cloth with grained-leather-look boards, publisher's device blind-stamped to the front board; dust jacket priced on the flap; Random House, 1966, with 'First Printing' stated on the copyright page. Photographs of the original cast. US Random House edition is the true first, identified by the 'First Printing' statement on the copyright page and the priced jacket. Book-club issue lacks the priced jacket, may bear a blindstamp to the rear board, and lacks the copyright-page 'First Printing' statement; boards can be lighter.
• The Star-Spangled Girl — 1967 · Random HouseCloth in dust jacket; Random House, 1967, with 'First Printing' stated on the copyright page (removed on later printings). Photographs of the original cast (Anthony Perkins, Connie Stevens, Richard Benjamin). US Random House edition is the true first, identified by the 'First Printing' statement on the copyright page. Book-club issue lacks the copyright-page 'First Printing' statement and the priced jacket, and often carries a blindstamp to the rear board.
• Plaza Suite — 1969 · Random HouseRandom House, New York, 1969, in cloth and dust jacket. The first printing states 'First Printing' on the copyright page, dropped on later printings. The binding is black cloth-backed yellow (paper-covered) boards, the spine lettered in gilt and the front board stamped in blind; issued in the original dust jacket, which should retain its printed price on the flap. US Random House 1969 is the true first edition of this American play; premiered on Broadway in February 1968 and basis for the 1971 film. Book-club copies lack the stated 'First Printing' and typically carry a blindstamp to the rear board.
• Promises, Promises (musical libretto) — 1969 · Random HouseCloth, dust jacket; Random House, New York, 1969. Book by Simon, music by Bacharach, lyrics by David, based on the Wilder/Diamond screenplay The Apartment. First printing states 'First Printing' on the copyright page. US Random House is the true first edition. A book-club edition exists; it lacks the stated 'First Printing' and shows a rear-board blindstamp.
• Last of the Red Hot Lovers — 1970 · Random HouseRandom House, New York, 1970, ISBN 0394403584; half binding of orange paper over black cloth boards with an embossed device to the front board and gilt spine lettering, in dust jacket with jacket art by Bill Allen and the printed price present on the flap. The first printing states 'First Printing' on the copyright page. US Random House is the true first edition of the published play. Book-club copies lack the stated 'First Printing', typically carry a blind rear-board stamp, and are issued without a printed price on the jacket flap.
• The Gingerbread Lady — 1971 · Random HouseRandom House, New York, 1971, bound in quarter black cloth over blue boards with gilt spine lettering, in dust jacket; the first printing is stated as 'First Printing' on the copyright page, and the priced jacket should retain its printed price at the front flap. US Random House is the true first edition; the play was first produced on Broadway in 1970 and this Random House hardcover is its first book form. Book-club copies lack the stated 'First Printing' line, are typically bound with a blindstamped dot or square on the rear board, and carry an unpriced jacket.
• The Prisoner of Second Avenue — 1972 · Random HouseCloth in dust jacket; Random House, New York, 1972. The first printing states 'First Printing' explicitly on the copyright page. The first-issue jacket is a glossy white, blue, and orange design; the printed price should be present on the front flap, and collectors note the spine panel of the jacket is prone to the usual discoloration. US Random House is the true first edition. A Book-of-the-Month Club edition exists; it lacks the stated 'First Printing' on the copyright page and shows the characteristic small blindstamp (typically a square or dot) to the lower rear board, and its jacket carries no printed price.
• The Sunshine Boys — 1973 · Random HouseFirst edition, Random House, New York, 1973 (published October 1973), in half-cloth binding over boards, octavo. First printing is a stated first printing on the copyright page. First-state dust jacket bears the photograph by Martha Swope with jacket design by Bob Cuevas and should retain its printed front-flap price (price-clipping alone does not unmake a first). US Random House is the true first edition; the stated first printing with the Martha Swope photo jacket is the point. Book-club copies lack the stated 'First Printing' and typically carry a rear-board blindstamp.
• The Good Doctor — 1974 · Random HouseQuarter black cloth over orange paper boards, gilt spine lettering, in dust jacket with the printed price on the front flap. Random House, New York, 1974. Subtitled A New Comedy with Music, adapted from and suggested by stories of Anton Chekhov. The US Random House hardcover of 1974 is the true first edition. No prior UK or Canadian precedence. A Book Club edition exists and is common. It lacks the printed price on the jacket front flap, is often on lighter-weight boards, and typically carries a blind-stamped dot or square on the rear board. The trade first states First Edition and retains the flap price.
• God's Favorite — 1975 · Random HouseRandom House, New York, 1975, stating First Edition on the copyright page; cloth-backed boards with the printed price present on the front flap of the dust jacket. Subtitled A New Comedy; Simon's comic reworking of the Book of Job, which opened on Broadway in December 1974 ahead of the 1975 book. The US Random House hardcover of 1975 is the true first edition. No prior UK or Canadian precedence. A Book Club edition exists. It lacks the flap price, is usually on lighter boards, and typically carries a blind-stamped mark on the rear board; the trade first states First Edition and retains the flap price.
• California Suite — 1977 · Random HouseRandom House, New York, 1977. Cloth-backed boards in a dust jacket; the trade first edition states First Edition on the copyright page and retains the printed price on the front jacket flap (present regardless of any later clipping). An octavo of about 118 pages, this is the published script of the four-part comedy set in a Beverly Hills hotel suite, its couples arriving from London, Philadelphia, Chicago, and…. The US Random House hardcover of 1977 is the true first edition, published March 1977, with no prior UK or Canadian precedence. A Random House Book Club edition of 1977 exists and circulates widely; it lacks the printed flap price, typically carries a blind-stamped mark to the rear board, and omits the stated First Edition, whereas the trade first states First Edition and keeps the flap price.
• Chapter Two — 1979 · Random HouseRandom House, New York, 1979. Quarter black cloth over white paper boards, the front board decorated in blind, spine lettered in silver, in the pictorial dust jacket with the printed price present on the front flap. The trade first states First Edition on the copyright page with no later-printing indicators. The US Random House hardcover of 1979 is the true first edition; there is no prior UK or Canadian precedence. A Book Club edition is documented and common. It lacks the printed flap price, is on lighter/thinner boards, and typically carries a blind-stamped mark (dot or square) on the rear board; the trade first states First Edition on the copyright page and retains the flap price.
• They're Playing Our Song (musical libretto) — 1980 · Random HouseCloth-backed boards, dust jacket with the printed price on the front flap. Random House, New York, 1980. Musical book by Neil Simon with music by Marvin Hamlisch and lyrics by Carole Bayer Sager. The US Random House hardcover of 1980 is the true first edition. No prior UK or Canadian precedence. A Book Club edition may exist for this title; where present it lacks the flap price and typically carries a blind-stamped mark on the rear board, while the trade first states First Edition and retains the flap price. Confirm the flap price is present before relying on this point.
• I Ought to Be in Pictures — 1981 · Random HouseFirst edition, first printing, Random House, New York, 1981; octavo of 96 pages. Bound in black cloth-backed boards with the spine titled in silver and a palm-tree motif blind-stamped to the front board, issued in the pictorial dust jacket with the printed price present on the front flap. The copyright page carries the Random House first-printing convention (the words First Edition with no later-printing statement). The US Random House hardcover of 1981 is the true first edition. No prior UK or Canadian precedence. A Book Club edition may exist; where present it typically lacks the flap price and can carry a blind-stamped mark to the rear board, while the trade first states First Edition and retains the printed flap price. Confirm the flap price is present before relying on this point.
• Brighton Beach Memoirs — 1984 · Random HouseHardcover in dust jacket. New York: Random House, 1984. Copyright page carries the stated "First Edition" together with a complete descending number line ending in 1. First title in Simon's autobiographical Eugene trilogy. US Random House hardcover is the true first edition; no competing UK or Canadian precedence. Book-club editions omit the price from the dust-jacket flap and typically carry a blind-stamp or small dot on the rear board; the copyright page lacks the "First Edition" statement and number line.
• Biloxi Blues — 1986 · Random HouseHardcover in dust jacket. New York: Random House, 1986. Copyright page carries the stated "First Edition" with a descending number line ending in 1; dust jacket priced on the front flap. Won the 1985 Tony Award for Best Play. Second book of the autobiographical trilogy. US Random House hardcover is the true first edition; no competing UK or Canadian precedence. Book-club editions omit the price from the dust-jacket flap and carry a blind-stamp or dot on the rear board, with no "First Edition" statement or number line on the copyright page.
• Broadway Bound — 1987 · Random HouseHardcover in dust jacket. New York: Random House, 1987. Copyright page carries the stated "First Edition" with a descending number line ending in 1; dust jacket priced on the front flap. Concludes the autobiographical trilogy begun with Brighton Beach Memoirs and Biloxi Blues. US Random House hardcover is the true first edition; no competing UK or Canadian precedence. Book-club editions omit the jacket price and carry a blind-stamp or dot on the rear board, with no "First Edition" statement or number line.
• Rumors — 1990 · Random HouseHardcover in dust jacket. New York: Random House, 1990. Copyright page carries the stated "First Edition" with a descending number line ending in 1; dust jacket priced on the front flap. Issued under the full title Rumors: A Farce. US Random House hardcover is the true first edition; no competing UK or Canadian precedence. Book-club editions omit the jacket price and carry a blind-stamp or dot on the rear board, with no "First Edition" statement or number line.
• Lost in Yonkers — 1991 · Random HouseHardcover in dust jacket. New York: Random House, 1991. Copyright page carries the stated "First Edition" with a descending number line ending in 1; dust jacket priced on the front flap. Won the 1991 Pulitzer Prize for Drama. US Random House hardcover is the true first edition; no competing UK or Canadian precedence. Book-club editions omit the jacket price and carry a blind-stamp or dot on the rear board, with no "First Edition" statement or number line.
• Jake's Women — 1992 · Random HouseHardcover in dust jacket. New York: Random House, 1992. Copyright page carries the stated "First Edition" with a descending number line ending in 1; dust jacket priced on the front flap. US Random House hardcover is the true first edition; no competing UK or Canadian precedence. Book-club editions omit the jacket price and carry a blind-stamp or dot on the rear board, with no "First Edition" statement or number line.
• Laughter on the 23rd Floor — 1995 · Random HouseCloth-backed boards in dust jacket, Random House, New York, 1995. First printing carries the 'First Edition' statement on the copyright page together with a complete descending number line ending in the numeral that indicates the printing; on a true first the count runs to 1. The US Random House 1995 hardcover is the true first edition of the published playscript. Book-club reprints are distinguished by the usual tells: no printed price on the jacket flap, a blind stamp or gutter dot on the rear board, and lighter, thinner boards; treat any copy lacking the 'First Edition' statement and full number line as a later or club issue.
• Rewrites: A Memoir — 1996 · Simon & SchusterCloth in dust jacket, Simon & Schuster, New York, 1996. First printing states 'First Edition' on the copyright page with a full number line reading 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1. The first-state glossy jacket carries a color photograph of Simon on the front, a raised (embossed) title, and praise on the rear panel from Mike Nichols, Gwen Verdon, Hal Prince, and Steve Martin; the front flap should retain its printed price. The US Simon & Schuster 1996 hardcover is the true first edition of Simon's first volume of memoirs. No routine book-club conflict; verify the 'First Edition' statement with the complete number line ending in 1, the embossed title and photographic jacket, and a printed price on the front flap.
• The Play Goes On: A Memoir — 1999 · Simon & SchusterSimon & Schuster, New York, 1999. Bound in bright yellow paper-covered boards with a black cloth spine stamped in silver, blank endpapers, and twenty-nine black-and-white photographs in the text. The first printing states 'First Edition' on the copyright page with a full number line running down to 1; the first-issue jacket should retain its printed front-flap price. The US Simon & Schuster 1999 hardcover is the true first edition of Simon's second volume of memoirs, the sequel to Rewrites. No routine book-club conflict; verify the 'First Edition' statement and complete number line, the yellow boards with silver-stamped black spine, and a printed price on the jacket flap.

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