# Is "Comeback (Parker #17)" by Richard Stark (Donald E. Westlake) a First Edition?

> **Quick answer.** A first edition of Comeback (Parker #17) by Richard Stark (Donald E. Westlake) (Mysterious Press, 1997) is identified by: US Mysterious Press hardcover, New York, first printing October 1997. The US Mysterious Press hardcover is the true first edition.

**Checklist — a true first has these:**
- US 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
- Publisher imprint reads Mysterious Press
- Not a book-club edition (see below)

| | |
|---|---|
| Author | Richard Stark (Donald E. Westlake) |
| Publisher | Mysterious Press |
| Year | 1997 |
| True first | US edition |
| Format | Hardcover (trade) |
| Key point | US Mysterious Press hardcover, New York, first printing October 1997 |
| Book-club edition exists? | Yes |

## Points of issue
US 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.

## Is this the true first?
The US Mysterious Press hardcover is the true first edition.

## Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Book-club editions are distinguished by the usual tells; a full number line ending in 1 indicates the first printing.

## Source
New Mexico Literacy Project — Is *Comeback (Parker #17)* by Richard Stark (Donald E. Westlake) a first edition? https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/first-edition/comeback-parker-17
CC BY 4.0. Part of the Canonical First-Edition Points of Issue dataset (https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/api/first-edition-titles.json). Last reviewed 2026-07-03.