# Is "Rewrites: A Memoir" by Neil Simon a First Edition?

> **Quick answer.** A first edition of Rewrites: A Memoir by Neil Simon (Simon & Schuster, 1996) is identified by: Cloth in dust jacket, Simon & Schuster, New York, 1996. The US Simon & Schuster 1996 hardcover is the true first edition of Simon's first volume of memoirs.

**Checklist — a true first has these:**
- Cloth in dust jacket, Simon & Schuster, New York, 1996
- First printing states 'First Edition' on the copyright page with a full number line reading 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
- The first-state glossy jacket carries a color photograph of Simon on the front, a raised (embossed) title, and praise on the rear panel from Mike Nichols, Gwen Verdon, Hal Prince, and Steve Martin; the front flap should retain its printed price
- Publisher imprint reads Simon & Schuster
- Not a book-club edition (see below)

| | |
|---|---|
| Author | Neil Simon |
| Publisher | Simon & Schuster |
| Year | 1996 |
| True first | US edition |
| Format | Hardcover (trade) |
| Key point | Cloth in dust jacket, Simon & Schuster, New York, 1996 |
| Book-club edition exists? | No |

## Points of issue
Cloth in dust jacket, Simon & Schuster, New York, 1996. First printing states 'First Edition' on the copyright page with a full number line reading 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1. The first-state glossy jacket carries a color photograph of Simon on the front, a raised (embossed) title, and praise on the rear panel from Mike Nichols, Gwen Verdon, Hal Prince, and Steve Martin; the front flap should retain its printed price.

## Is this the true first?
The US Simon & Schuster 1996 hardcover is the true first edition of Simon's first volume of memoirs.

## Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
No routine book-club conflict; verify the 'First Edition' statement with the complete number line ending in 1, the embossed title and photographic jacket, and a printed price on the front flap.

## Source
New Mexico Literacy Project — Is *Rewrites: A Memoir* by Neil Simon a first edition? https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/first-edition/rewrites-a-memoir
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.