# Is "Last of the Red Hot Lovers" by Neil Simon a First Edition?

> **Quick answer.** A first edition of Last of the Red Hot Lovers by Neil Simon (Random House, 1970) is identified by: Random House, New York, 1970, ISBN 0394403584; half binding of orange paper over black cloth boards with an embossed device to the front board and gilt spine lettering, in dust jacket with jacket art by Bill Allen and the printed price present on the flap. US Random House is the true first edition of the published play.

**Checklist — a true first has these:**
- Random House, New York, 1970, ISBN 0394403584; half binding of orange paper over black cloth boards with an embossed device to the front board and gilt spine lettering, in dust jacket with jacket art by Bill Allen and the printed price present on the flap
- The first printing states 'First Printing' on the copyright page
- Publisher imprint reads Random House
- Not a book-club edition (see below)

| | |
|---|---|
| Author | Neil Simon |
| Publisher | Random House |
| Year | 1970 |
| True first | US edition |
| Format | Hardcover (trade) |
| Key point | Random House, New York, 1970, ISBN 0394403584; half binding of orange paper over black cloth boards with an embossed device to the front… |
| Book-club edition exists? | Yes |

## Points of issue
Random House, New York, 1970, ISBN 0394403584; half binding of orange paper over black cloth boards with an embossed device to the front board and gilt spine lettering, in dust jacket with jacket art by Bill Allen and the printed price present on the flap. The first printing states 'First Printing' on the copyright page.

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

## Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Book-club copies lack the stated 'First Printing', typically carry a blind rear-board stamp, and are issued without a printed price on the jacket flap.

## Source
New Mexico Literacy Project — Is *Last of the Red Hot Lovers* by Neil Simon a first edition? https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/first-edition/last-of-the-red-hot-lovers
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.