# Is "The Prisoner of Second Avenue" by Neil Simon a First Edition?

> **Quick answer.** A first edition of The Prisoner of Second Avenue by Neil Simon (Random House, 1972) is identified by: Cloth in dust jacket; Random House, New York, 1972. US Random House is the true first edition.

**Checklist — a true first has these:**
- Cloth in dust jacket
- Random House, New York, 1972
- The first printing states 'First Printing' explicitly on the copyright page
- The first-issue jacket is a glossy white, blue, and orange design; the printed price should be present on the front flap, and collectors note the spine panel of the jacket is prone to the usual discoloration
- Publisher imprint reads Random House
- Not a book-club edition (see below)

| | |
|---|---|
| Author | Neil Simon |
| Publisher | Random House |
| Year | 1972 |
| True first | US edition |
| Format | Hardcover (trade) |
| Key point | Cloth in dust jacket |
| Book-club edition exists? | Yes |

## Points of issue
Cloth in dust jacket; Random House, New York, 1972. The first printing states 'First Printing' explicitly on the copyright page. The first-issue jacket is a glossy white, blue, and orange design; the printed price should be present on the front flap, and collectors note the spine panel of the jacket is prone to the usual discoloration.

## Is this the true first?
US Random House is the true first edition.

## Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
A Book-of-the-Month Club edition exists; it lacks the stated 'First Printing' on the copyright page and shows the characteristic small blindstamp (typically a square or dot) to the lower rear board, and its jacket carries no printed price.

## Source
New Mexico Literacy Project — Is *The Prisoner of Second Avenue* by Neil Simon a first edition? https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/first-edition/the-prisoner-of-second-avenue
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.