# Is "Boswell: A Modern Comedy" by Stanley Elkin a First Edition?

> **Quick answer.** A first edition of Boswell: A Modern Comedy by Stanley Elkin (Random House, 1964) is identified by: Random House first printing states First Edition / First Printing on the copyright page in the pre-1970 Random House manner (no number line yet on titles of this era); first-issue jacket with the original price on the front flap. The US Random House edition is the true first; the UK edition (Blond, 1966) follows.

**Checklist — a true first has these:**
- Random House first printing states First Edition / First Printing on the copyright page in the pre-1970 Random House manner (no number line yet on titles of this era); first-issue jacket with the original price on the front flap
- Elkin's first book and first novel
- Publisher imprint reads Random House
- Not a book-club edition (see below)

| | |
|---|---|
| Author | Stanley Elkin |
| Publisher | Random House |
| Year | 1964 |
| True first | US edition |
| Format | Hardcover (trade) |
| Key point | Random House first printing states First Edition / First Printing on the copyright page in the pre-1970 Random House manner (no number line… |
| Book-club edition exists? | Yes |

## Points of issue
Random House first printing states First Edition / First Printing on the copyright page in the pre-1970 Random House manner (no number line yet on titles of this era); first-issue jacket with the original price on the front flap. Elkin's first book and first novel.

## Is this the true first?
The US Random House edition is the true first; the UK edition (Blond, 1966) follows.

## Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
The stated first printing is present on the true first; book-club copies omit the flap price and usually carry a Book Club Edition notice and a rear-board blind-stamp.

## Source
New Mexico Literacy Project — Is *Boswell: A Modern Comedy* by Stanley Elkin a first edition? https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/first-edition/boswell-a-modern-comedy
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.