Donald E. Westlake First Editions

• The Mercenaries (UK: The Hunter) — 1960 · Random HouseRandom House, New York, 1960 — Westlake's first novel under his own name; octavo, 208 pp. Per Random House practice the copyright page states 'First Edition' (the line dropped on later printings), so a first shows 'First Edition' with no later-printing statement. Issued in a priced first-issue dust jacket (price present at the front flap when unclipped). The US Random House 1960 hardcover is the true first. The UK first followed from T. V. Boardman (London, 1961, in the 'American Bloodhound' line, dust-jacket art by Denis McLoughlin) and kept the SAME title, The Mercenaries — both are collected, US precedes UK. Alternate US titles: The Smashers (Dell paperback, 1962) and The Cutie (Westlake's own preferred title, used for the Hard Case Crime reissue, 2009). Do…. Book-club editions lack the 'First Edition' statement and carry no printed price on the jacket flap.
• The Fugitive Pigeon — 1965 · Random HouseRandom House (New York) 1965 hardcover is the first edition, octavo, bound in blue and black paper-covered boards stamped in red with a red topstain, collating [viii] 172 [2] pages. The first-issue dust jacket is pink and must retain the printed price on the front flap, unclipped. An early Westlake comic-crime novel published under his own name. The US Random House hardcover is the true first. The UK edition (Boardman, 1966, with a Denis McLoughlin cover) followed and is not the first. Book-club editions of this era are identifiable by a blindstamped dot or square on the rear board and by a jacket with no printed price on the front flap; a Book-of-the-Month Club printing of this title is known.
• The Busy Body — 1966 · Random HouseRandom House (New York), 1966, first edition, an octavo in brown cloth boards under a pictorial dust jacket; the copyright page carries Random House's stated 'First Edition' with no additional printing indicated. Comic crime novel, adapted into a 1967 feature film. The US Random House hardcover is the true first. The UK T. V. Boardman edition, also 1966, carries a Denis McLoughlin dust-jacket design and followed the American issue; it is not the first. Book-club editions of this era are typically identifiable by a blind-stamped dot or square on the rear board and by a jacket with no printed price on the front flap.
• The Spy in the Ointment — 1966 · Random HouseRandom House (New York) 1966 hardcover is the first edition, a comic spy thriller. Bound in quarter dark-blue paper over blue-patterned boards, lettered with the publisher's device in gilt on the spine and with a light-blue topstain. The first-issue dust jacket was designed by Martin Pickwick and carries the original price on the front flap (present but any amount unstated). The US Random House hardcover is the true first. Book-club editions of this era are typically identifiable by a blind-stamped dot or square on the rear board and by a jacket with no printed price on the front flap.
• God Save the Mark — 1967 · Random HouseRandom House, New York, 1967, first edition, first printing, with 'First Printing' stated on the copyright page. Bound in grey buckram cloth with a red top-stain; 209 pages. The first-issue dust jacket carries cover art by Richard Rosenblum and should retain its printed price on the front flap. The novel won the Edgar Award for Best Novel (awarded 1968 for the 1967 book). The US Random House hardcover first printing, so stated on the copyright page, is the true first. Book-club editions of this era are identifiable by a blind-stamped dot or square on the rear board, thinner boards, and a jacket with no printed price on the front flap; they do not carry the 'First Printing' statement.
• The Day of the Jackal-era: God Save the Mark — 1967 · Random HouseThe book is 'God Save the Mark' (the supplied title prefix 'The Day of the Jackal-era' is erroneous and unrelated to this work). Random House first printing states 'FIRST PRINTING' on the copyright page with no later-printing notice; first-issue dust jacket carries the printed price on the flap. A comic crime novel narrated by perennial con-victim Fred Fitch. Winner of the Edgar Award for Best Novel (1968). The US Random House edition (1967) is the true first. The title is simply 'God Save the Mark'; the prefix in the source record is a mislabel and should be dropped. Book-club editions are common, identifiable by a blind-stamp and absence of a flap price.
• The Hot Rock — 1970 · Simon & SchusterUS Simon & Schuster first, 1970: an octavo in buff cloth-backed boards with a pictorial dust jacket; first printing carries the Simon & Schuster first-edition statement on the copyright page with no later-printing line. The first Dortmunder novel, introducing comic-caper protagonist John Dortmunder, and a cornerstone of comic crime fiction. Jacket priced for 1970. US Simon & Schuster 1970 is the true first; the UK Hodder & Stoughton edition is a first-thus. Book-club editions of this era are typically identifiable by a blind-stamped dot or square on the rear board and by a jacket with no printed price on the front flap. The specific book-club tell was not independently confirmed, so rely on the general points and the absence of the stated FIRST PRINTING line.
• Bank Shot (Dortmunder #2) — 1972 · Simon & SchusterSimon & Schuster (New York), 1972 hardcover is the first edition. For Simon & Schuster titles of this period (1937 to 1973), the first printing carries NO printing or edition notice and no date on the copyright page; the presence of any later-printing line or added date indicates a subsequent printing. Bound in light green boards with yellow spine lettering, in a predominantly white dust jacket bearing its…. The US Simon & Schuster hardcover is the true first. Book-club editions of this era are typically identifiable by a blind-stamped dot or square on the rear board and by a jacket with no printed price on the front flap.
• Cops and Robbers — 1972 · M. Evans and CompanyM. Evans and Company, New York, 1972, hardcover. First printing shows a complete number line and carries the original jacket price of 5.95 on the front flap. Standalone caper novel, later filmed. The US M. Evans hardcover is the true first edition. A book-club edition exists; it typically lacks the number line, has a blind stamp or dot on the rear board, and no printed jacket price.
• Jimmy the Kid (Dortmunder #3) — 1974 · M. Evans and CompanyM. Evans and Company, New York, 1974, hardcover in cloth-backed boards, with the complete number row present on the copyright page identifying the first printing. Third Dortmunder novel; the plot embeds chapters of a fictional Richard Stark Parker novel, Child Heist, which the gang uses as a blueprint and which does not exist as a real book. A first-printing jacket carries the original printed price and should be…. The US M. Evans hardcover is the true first edition; the UK Hodder & Stoughton edition followed in 1975. A Detective Book Club edition was issued (New York, 1974) without a dust jacket as issued; book-club states can also be told by the board stamp and the absence of the copyright-page number row and any printed jacket price.
• Nobody's Perfect (Dortmunder #4) — 1977 · M. Evans and CompanyM. Evans and Company, New York, 1977; hardcover in cloth-backed boards in a pictorial dust jacket carrying the printed price on the front flap. Fourth Dortmunder novel. One of the more difficult Dortmunder titles to find in fine condition. The US M. Evans hardcover is the true first edition; the UK Hodder & Stoughton edition followed in 1978. A book club edition exists and is distinguished by the smaller, lighter board stamp and the absence of a printed price on the jacket front flap; the trade first should show that printed price.
• Why Me? (Dortmunder #5) — 1983 · Viking PressThe Viking Press, New York, 1983, hardcover; the fifth Dortmunder novel, in which the crew steals the ninety-carat Byzantine Fire ruby. The dust jacket carries art by Bob Shein with jacket design by R. Adelson. Viking firsts of this period state "First published in 1983 by The Viking Press" on the copyright page with no additional printing statement. The jacket should retain its printed price on the front flap. The US Viking Press hardcover, 1983, is the true first edition; confirm by the Viking first-published statement on the copyright page and the Bob Shein jacket art with R. Adelson jacket design. A book-club edition exists and is distinguished by a blindstamp to the rear board, smaller/lighter boards, and the absence of any printed price on the jacket (whereas the trade first should show the printed price).
• Good Behavior (Dortmunder #6) — 1986 · Mysterious PressMysterious Press, New York, 1986, hardcover, first trade edition. Sixth Dortmunder novel. Note the true precedence: a signed limited edition produced for Neiman-Marcus is dated 1985 and precedes the 1986 trade edition. The earliest printing is the signed Neiman-Marcus limited edition dated 1985; the Mysterious Press trade hardcover of 1986 is the first trade edition. Collectors should distinguish the two rather than treat the 1986 trade as the sole first. A book-club edition of the trade text exists and is distinguished by the board stamp and the absence of a printed jacket price; it should not be confused with the 1985 limited edition.
• Drowned Hopes (Dortmunder #7) — 1990 · Mysterious PressMysterious Press, New York, 1990, hardcover, the seventh Dortmunder novel, about 422 pages, jacket designed by Harold Nolan. Mysterious Press firsts of this period are identified by the copyright-page statement 'First Printing' with the month and year, accompanied by a descending number line retaining the numeral 1. A first-state jacket carries its printed price on the front flap. The US Mysterious Press hardcover is the true first edition, confirmed by the stated 'First Printing' line and the number line retaining the 1. A book-club edition exists and is distinguished by the board stamp and the absence of a printed jacket price; later printings drop the 1 from the number line.
• The Ax — 1997 · Mysterious PressUS Mysterious Press hardcover, published June 1997 (ISBN 0-89296-587-8), running 273 pages. The first printing carries a complete number line ending in 1 on the copyright page. Boards are stamped in gilt script on the spine, and the first-issue dust jacket carries a printed price on the front flap that should be present on a complete example. A dark standalone widely regarded as a high point of Westlake's later work. The US Mysterious Press hardcover is the true first edition. Book-club editions are typically blind-stamped on the rear board and lack the number line; a full number line ending in 1 indicates the first printing.

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