# Is "The Death and Life of Great American Cities" by Jane Jacobs a First Edition?

> **Quick answer.** A first edition of The Death and Life of Great American Cities by Jane Jacobs (Random House, 1961) is identified by: Black patterned cloth (brick-pattern design), spine lettered in gilt and red, red topstain. US Random House (New York) true first; UK Jonathan Cape followed in 1962.

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

| | |
|---|---|
| Author | Jane Jacobs |
| Publisher | Random House |
| Year | 1961 |
| True first | US edition |
| Format | Hardcover (trade) |
| Key point | Black patterned cloth (brick-pattern design), spine lettered in gilt and red, red topstain |
| Book-club edition exists? | Yes |

## 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.

## Source
New Mexico Literacy Project — Is *The Death and Life of Great American Cities* by Jane Jacobs a first edition? https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/first-edition/the-death-and-life-of-great-american-cities
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.