# Is "A Dance at the Slaughterhouse" by Lawrence Block a First Edition?

> **Quick answer.** A first edition of A Dance at the Slaughterhouse by Lawrence Block (William Morrow, 1991) is identified by: Morrow first edition stated on the copyright page with a complete number line down to 1. The US William Morrow edition (1991) is the true first.

**Checklist — a true first has these:**
- Morrow first edition stated on the copyright page with a complete number line down to 1
- First-issue jacket carries the printed price on the front flap
- Matthew Scudder novel; winner of the Edgar Award for Best Novel
- Publisher imprint reads William Morrow
- Not a book-club edition (see below)

| | |
|---|---|
| Author | Lawrence Block |
| Publisher | William Morrow |
| Year | 1991 |
| True first | US edition |
| Format | Hardcover (trade) |
| Key point | Morrow first edition stated on the copyright page with a complete number line down to 1 |
| Book-club edition exists? | Yes |

## Points of issue
Morrow first edition stated on the copyright page with a complete number line down to 1. First-issue jacket carries the printed price on the front flap. Matthew Scudder novel; winner of the Edgar Award for Best Novel (1992).

## Is this the true first?
The US William Morrow edition (1991) is the true first.

## Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Book-club edition is common: blind-stamp to the rear board and no price on the jacket.

## Source
New Mexico Literacy Project — Is *A Dance at the Slaughterhouse* by Lawrence Block a first edition? https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/first-edition/a-dance-at-the-slaughterhouse
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.