# Is "Condominium" by John D. MacDonald a First Edition?

> **Quick answer.** A first edition of Condominium by John D. MacDonald (J.B. Lippincott, 1977) is identified by: Lippincott hardcover, 1977, with the number line reading 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 (ending in 1) on the copyright page. The US Lippincott hardcover is the true first edition.

**Checklist — a true first has these:**
- Lippincott hardcover, 1977, with the number line reading 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 (ending in 1) on the copyright page
- A major bestseller and a non-McGee disaster novel
- Publisher imprint reads J.B. Lippincott
- Not a book-club edition (see below)

| | |
|---|---|
| Author | John D. MacDonald |
| Publisher | J.B. Lippincott |
| Year | 1977 |
| True first | US edition |
| Format | Hardcover (trade) |
| Key point | Lippincott hardcover, 1977, with the number line reading 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 (ending in 1)… |
| Book-club edition exists? | Yes |

## Points of issue
Lippincott hardcover, 1977, with the number line reading 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 (ending in 1) on the copyright page. A major bestseller and a non-McGee disaster novel.

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

## Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
This was a Book-of-the-Month Club main selection, so club copies are common; identify them by the blind blindstamp on the rear board and the absence of a price on the jacket flap.

## Source
New Mexico Literacy Project — Is *Condominium* by John D. MacDonald a first edition? https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/first-edition/condominium
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.