# Is "Deadly Edge (Parker #13)" by Richard Stark (Donald E. Westlake) a First Edition?

> **Quick answer.** A first edition of Deadly Edge (Parker #13) by Richard Stark (Donald E. Westlake) (Random House, 1971) is identified by: Random House hardcover, 1971 (octavo, 214 pp). US Random House hardcover is the true first; the series went hardcover-first beginning with this title.

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

| | |
|---|---|
| Author | Richard Stark (Donald E. Westlake) |
| Publisher | Random House |
| Year | 1971 |
| True first | US edition |
| Format | Hardcover (trade) |
| Key point | Random House hardcover, 1971 (octavo, 214 pp) |
| Book-club edition exists? | Yes |

## Points of issue
Random 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.

## Is this the true first?
US Random House hardcover is the true first; the series went hardcover-first beginning with this title.

## Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Book-club edition has a blind-stamped dot on the rear board and an unpriced jacket.

## Source
New Mexico Literacy Project — Is *Deadly Edge (Parker #13)* by Richard Stark (Donald E. Westlake) a first edition? https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/first-edition/deadly-edge-parker-13
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.