# Is "Breakfast at Tiffany's" by Truman Capote a First Edition?

> **Quick answer.** A first edition of Breakfast at Tiffany's by Truman Capote (Random House, 1958) is identified by: Random House, 1958; the full title is 'Breakfast at Tiffany's: A Short Novel and Three Stories' and the volume also contains 'House of Flowers,' 'A Diamond Guitar,' and 'A Christmas Memory.' The first printing states 'FIRST PRINTING' on the copyright page. The US Random House edition is the true first; the UK Hamish Hamilton edition (1958) is later.

**Checklist — a true first has these:**
- Random House, 1958; the full title is 'Breakfast at Tiffany's: A Short Novel and Three Stories' and the volume also contains 'House of Flowers,' 'A Diamond Guitar,' and 'A Christmas Memory.' The first printing states 'FIRST PRINTING' on the copyright page
- Binding is canary-yellow cloth with the spine title blocked in gilt within a black panel
- The first-issue dust jacket is orange and carries a '10/58' date code on the front flap; it should retain its printed price on the flap
- Publisher imprint reads Random House
- Not a book-club edition (see below)

| | |
|---|---|
| Author | Truman Capote |
| Publisher | Random House |
| Year | 1958 |
| True first | US edition |
| Format | Hardcover (trade) |
| Key point | Random House, 1958; the full title is 'Breakfast at Tiffany's: A Short Novel and Three Stories' and the volume also contains 'House of… |
| Book-club edition exists? | Yes |

## Points of issue
Random House, 1958; the full title is 'Breakfast at Tiffany's: A Short Novel and Three Stories' and the volume also contains 'House of Flowers,' 'A Diamond Guitar,' and 'A Christmas Memory.' The first printing states 'FIRST PRINTING' on the copyright page. Binding is canary-yellow cloth with the spine title blocked in gilt within a black panel. The first-issue dust jacket is orange and carries a '10/58' date code on the front flap; it should retain its printed price on the flap.

## Is this the true first?
The US Random House edition is the true first; the UK Hamish Hamilton edition (1958) is later.

## Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
The book-club edition lacks the 'FIRST PRINTING' statement, carries a blind-stamp (usually a small dot or square on the rear board), uses bulkier lower-grade paper, and its jacket has no '10/58' code and no printed price.

## Source
New Mexico Literacy Project — Is *Breakfast at Tiffany's* by Truman Capote a first edition? https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/first-edition/breakfast-at-tiffanys
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.