# Is "The Book of Daniel" by E.L. Doctorow a First Edition?

> **Quick answer.** A first edition of The Book of Daniel by E.L. Doctorow (Random House, 1971) is identified by: "First Edition" stated on the copyright page. The US Random House printing is the true first; the UK Macmillan edition (1972) follows.

**Checklist — a true first has these:**
- "First Edition" stated on the copyright page
- Bound in light brown cloth with the spine lettering stamped in red and a red topstain, 303 pages; jacket design credited to Joseph Tully/Fujita Design
- The first-issue dust jacket carries the printed price on the front flap and is unclipped
- Doctorow's third novel and his breakthrough, a key collected title
- Publisher imprint reads Random House
- Not a book-club edition (see below)

| | |
|---|---|
| Author | E.L. Doctorow |
| Publisher | Random House |
| Year | 1971 |
| True first | US edition |
| Format | Hardcover (trade) |
| Key point | "First Edition" stated on the copyright page |
| Book-club edition exists? | Yes |

## Points of issue
"First Edition" stated on the copyright page. Bound in light brown cloth with the spine lettering stamped in red and a red topstain, 303 pages; jacket design credited to Joseph Tully/Fujita Design. The first-issue dust jacket carries the printed price on the front flap and is unclipped. Doctorow's third novel and his breakthrough, a key collected title.

## Is this the true first?
The US Random House printing is the true first; the UK Macmillan edition (1972) follows.

## Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Later printings drop the "First Edition" line or add a printing statement; book club issues are smaller, lack the printed jacket price, and may show a blind stamp on the rear board.

## Source
New Mexico Literacy Project — Is *The Book of Daniel* by E.L. Doctorow a first edition? https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/first-edition/the-book-of-daniel
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.