Richard Stark (Donald E. Westlake) First Editions

• The Hunter (Parker #1) — 1962 · Pocket BooksPocket Books mass-market paperback original, first printing, with cover art by Harry Bennett. The copyright page states the book was printed December 1962 (it reached distribution early 1963, the source of some dating confusion). The first Parker novel and the debut of the Richard Stark pseudonym; the basis for the films Point Blank and Payback. A paperback original, so the first Pocket Books printing (printed December 1962) is the true first. The 1963 Permabook reissue was printed from new plates, and later Allison & Busby and Gregg Press hardcovers are all later reprints (later-thus). Not a book-club title. Later Pocket printings note additional printings on the copyright page; the Permabook reissue and the various hardcover reissues are all later editions.
• The Hunter (Point Blank) — 1962 · PermabookPaperback original issued under the pseudonym 'Richard Stark,' a Permabook (Pocket Books) printing, catalog number M-4272, dated December 1962. Color pictorial wrapper with cover art by Harry Bennett. First Parker novel; later reissued and film-tied as 'Point Blank.'. The true first is the 1962 Permabook (Pocket Books) paperback original; there was no hardcover first edition. The later University of Chicago Press reissues are first-thus only. Not a book-club title; identify by the Permabook first-printing state and the M-4272 catalog number. The 'Point Blank' film tie-in editions of 1967 postdate it.
• The Man with the Getaway Face (Parker #2) — 1963 · Pocket BooksPocket Books paperback original, first printing, 1963, catalog number 6180, with cover art by Harry Bennett. The second Parker novel, published the same year as The Outfit. As a PBO there is no dust jacket; the printed cover price should be present, and the first printing carries no statement of additional printings on the copyright page. A paperback original, so the first Pocket Books printing (number 6180) is the true first; there was no prior hardcover. Later Pocket printings add a statement of further printings on the copyright page; the mid-1960s and later reissues carry different cover art and catalog numbers, and any hardcover appearance is a much later reissue.
• The Mourner (Parker #4) — 1963 · Perma BooksPerma Books paperback original, 1963 (catalog M 4298), with Harry Bennett cover art. Parker #4. The imprint on the book reads Perma Books, not Pocket Books. Paperback original; true first. No prior hardcover edition. The first four Parker novels appeared under the Perma Books imprint (owned by Pocket Books); the series moved to the Pocket Books imprint proper with The Score. Confirm the Perma Books wording and M 4298 number on the copyright page. Later reissues exist under other imprints.
• The Outfit (Parker #3) — 1963 · Pocket BooksPocket Books paperback original, first printing, 1963, issued in the Pocket/Permabooks line under catalog number M-4292, running to 153 pages. The third Parker novel, published the same year as The Man with the Getaway Face. As a mass-market original there is no dust jacket; identification rests on the printed cover with the M-4292 designation and 1963 copyright, with no later-printing statement on the copyright page. A paperback original, so the first Pocket Books printing (catalog M-4292, 1963) is the true first; there was no preceding hardcover. Later Pocket printings carry an added-printing statement on the copyright page or a revised catalog number; the University of Chicago Press and other hardcover/trade reissues are much later editions.
• The Score (Parker #5) — 1964 · Pocket BooksPocket Books paperback original, first printing July 1964 (Pocket Books number 35014), with wraparound cover art by Harry Bennett showing Parker and the crew framed through a truck windshield against a red ground. The printed cover price appears on the front cover. Parker #5, published under the Pocket Books imprint. Paperback original; true first. There was no prior hardcover edition, so the 1964 Pocket Books printing is the first appearance in any form. Confirm the Pocket Books imprint and number 35014 on the cover and copyright page. Later printings and reissues under other imprints (including the University of Chicago Press reissue) exist and are not the first.
• The Jugger (Parker #6) — 1965 · Pocket BooksPocket Books paperback original, Pocket number 50149, with a first-printing statement of July 1965 on the copyright page and Harry Bennett cover art. Bennett illustrated all of the Pocket Parkers from 'The Hunter' (1962) through 'The Handle' (1966), so his cover is a period-correct point but not proof of a first printing on its own; confirm the July 1965 printing line. Parker #6. Paperback original; true first. No prior hardcover edition exists. Confirm the Pocket Books imprint and the stated July 1965 first printing on the copyright page; later Pocket printings advance the printing statement, and the series was subsequently reissued under other imprints (later Avon, Gold Medal, and University of Chicago Press editions), all of which postdate this 1965 original.
• The Handle (Parker #8) — 1966 · Pocket BooksPocket Books mass-market paperback original, New York, 1966, with Harry Bennett cover art (depicting Parker, Crystal in full colour, and a greyscale Grofield). Parker #8, and the last of the eight Perma/Pocket Books Parkers before the series moved to Fawcett Gold Medal. Paperback original; true first. No prior hardcover edition. The eight Pocket Books Parkers from The Hunter (1962) through The Handle (1966) all carried Harry Bennett covers. Confirm the Pocket Books imprint on the copyright page and the Harry Bennett cover. Later printings and University of Chicago Press reissues (with Luc Sante introductions) exist and do not precede the 1966 original.
• The Green Eagle Score (Parker #10) — 1967 · Fawcett Gold MedalFawcett Gold Medal paperback original, 1967, carrying the Gold Medal catalog number d1861 on the cover and spine, with Robert McGinnis cover art. Parker #10. The true first is the wrappered Gold Medal printing; there is no printed number line, so identify it by the d1861 designation, the priced first-printing cover, and the absence of any later-printing or reissue statement. Paperback original; true first. No prior hardcover edition. The Gold Medal wrappered first (d1861) precedes all later paperback reissues and the later hardcover reprints. Confirm the Gold Medal imprint and catalog number d1861 on the cover and the Robert McGinnis cover art. Later printings and reissues under other imprints exist and lack the d1861 designation.
• The Rare Coin Score (Parker #9) — 1967 · Fawcett Gold MedalFawcett Gold Medal paperback original, 1967, carrying the Gold Medal number D1803, with cover art by Robert McGinnis. Parker #9, and the first Parker title Gold Medal issued after acquiring the US series rights from Pocket Books. As a paperback original the first printing carries no additional-printing statement on the copyright page and should retain the printed cover price. Paperback original; true first. No prior hardcover edition exists. Confirm the Gold Medal imprint and the number D1803 on the copyright page together with the McGinnis cover. Later Gold Medal printings and still later reissues under other imprints exist and differ from the D1803 first printing.
• The Black Ice Score (Parker #11) — 1968 · Fawcett Gold MedalGold Medal paperback original, 1968 (Gold Medal D1949), Robert McGinnis cover. First printing with the original cover price and no later-printing statement. Eleventh Parker novel. Paperback original; the Gold Medal PBO is the true first. No prior hardcover. Reprinted only later; distinguish by the printing statement and price on later Gold Medal printings.
• The Sour Lemon Score (Parker #12) — 1969 · Fawcett Gold MedalGold Medal paperback original, 1969. First printing with the original cover price and no later-printing statement. Twelfth Parker novel and the last of the four Gold Medal Parker paperbacks before the series moved to Random House hardcovers. Paperback original; the Gold Medal PBO is the true first. No prior hardcover. Reprinted later; distinguish by the printing statement and price on subsequent printings.
• Deadly Edge (Parker #13) — 1971 · Random HouseRandom House hardcover, 1971 (octavo, 214 pp). This is where the series shifts to hardcover-first; look for the Random House first-printing convention and a priced dust jacket. Thirteenth Parker novel. US Random House hardcover is the true first; the series went hardcover-first beginning with this title. Book-club edition has a blind-stamped dot on the rear board and an unpriced jacket.
• Slayground (Parker #14) — 1971 · Random HouseRandom House hardcover, 1971 (183 pp). The copyright page shows both 1969 and 1971 (the opening chapter is shared with the 1969 Grofield novel The Blackbird), but the first edition itself is the 1971 Random House hardcover. Fourteenth Parker novel. US Random House hardcover is the true first. Book-club edition has a blind-stamped dot on the rear board and an unpriced jacket.
• Plunder Squad (Parker #15) — 1972 · Random HouseRandom House hardcover, New York, 1972. Per Random House's 1970s convention, a first printing states 'First Edition' on the copyright page with a number line ending in '2' (a line ending in '1' would indicate a later printing). Boards are quarter-bound in black cloth over light-orange cloth with blind and silver stamping, in the publisher's pictorial dust jacket, which should carry its printed price on the front…. The US Random House hardcover is the true first. The book-club edition has a blind-stamped dot (or square) on the rear board, lacks the 'First Edition' statement and number line, and carries an unpriced jacket.
• Butcher's Moon (Parker #16) — 1974 · Random HouseRandom House, New York, 1974, first edition, first printing. Quarter black cloth over orange paper boards with silver lettering on the spine; octavo, paginated [9], 3-307, [5]. The first printing is identified by the Random House convention of the words First Edition on the copyright page together with a number line whose lowest numeral is 2 (Random House retains the 2 on true firsts rather than a 1). The dust…. US Random House hardcover is the true first; a high spot of the Stark run. Cataloged as Henderson 1073 and Hubin 766. Book-club edition has a blind-stamped dot on the rear board and an unpriced jacket, and lacks the First Edition / number-line statement of the trade printing.
• Comeback (Parker #17) — 1997 · Mysterious PressUS Mysterious Press hardcover, New York, first printing October 1997. The first printing carries a complete number line ending in 1, with the first-issue dust jacket retaining its printed price. Revives Parker after a gap of roughly 23 years; when signed, Westlake typically signed the title page. The US Mysterious Press hardcover is the true first edition. Book-club editions are distinguished by the usual tells; a full number line ending in 1 indicates the first printing.

More Mystery, Crime & Thriller shelves: Robert B. Parker, Robert Crais, Ross Macdonald, Ruth Rendell, S. S. Van Dine, Sara Paretsky.

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