# Is "Laughter on the 23rd Floor" by Neil Simon a First Edition?

> **Quick answer.** A first edition of Laughter on the 23rd Floor by Neil Simon (Random House, 1995) is identified by: Cloth-backed boards in dust jacket, Random House, New York, 1995. The US Random House 1995 hardcover is the true first edition of the published playscript.

**Checklist — a true first has these:**
- Cloth-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
- Publisher imprint reads Random House
- Not a book-club edition (see below)

| | |
|---|---|
| Author | Neil Simon |
| Publisher | Random House |
| Year | 1995 |
| True first | US edition |
| Format | Hardcover (trade) |
| Key point | Cloth-backed boards in dust jacket, Random House, New York, 1995 |
| Book-club edition exists? | Yes |

## Points of issue
Cloth-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.

## Is this the true first?
The US Random House 1995 hardcover is the true first edition of the published playscript.

## Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
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.

## Source
New Mexico Literacy Project — Is *Laughter on the 23rd Floor* by Neil Simon a first edition? https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/first-edition/laughter-on-the-23rd-floor
CC BY 4.0. Part of the Canonical First-Edition Points of Issue dataset (https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/api/first-edition-titles.json). Last reviewed 2026-07-03.