The points of issue
Black patterned cloth (brick-pattern design), spine lettered in gilt and red, red topstain. The copyright page reads 'First Printing' (Random House's first-printing statement), not 'First Edition.' First-state dust jacket priced 5.95 on the front flap.
Is this the true first?
US Random House (New York) true first; UK Jonathan Cape followed in 1962.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Identify the true first by the 'First Printing' statement on the copyright page and the unclipped first-state jacket price; later printings drop or alter the statement. Treat any specific book-club blind-stamp claim cautiously unless seen in hand.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of The Death and Life of Great American Cities a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: Black patterned cloth (brick-pattern design), spine lettered in gilt and red, red topstain. The copyright page reads 'First Printing' (Random House's first-printing statement), not 'First Edition.' First-state dust jacket priced 5.95 on the front flap.
How do I tell the first printing from a later one?
Check the copyright page for the publisher's first-printing convention and confirm the points above. US Random House (New York) true first; UK Jonathan Cape followed in 1962.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Identify the true first by the 'First Printing' statement on the copyright page and the unclipped first-state jacket price; later printings drop or alter the statement. Treat any specific book-club blind-stamp claim cautiously unless seen in hand.
I have a first edition of The Death and Life of Great American Cities — what should I do?
If you're clearing books, New Mexico Literacy Project offers free pickup in Albuquerque, any condition, and makes sure collectible copies aren't lost. To sell, see the author's collecting guide. Either way, nothing valuable ends up in a landfill.