# Is "Edwin of the Iron Shoes" by Marcia Muller a First Edition?

> **Quick answer.** A first edition of Edwin of the Iron Shoes by Marcia Muller (David McKay, 1977) is identified by: US David McKay first, 1977: red paper-covered boards with title stamped in black on the spine, octavo; jacket designed by Erik Sundgaard. The US David McKay 1977 hardcover is the true first.

**Checklist — a true first has these:**
- US David McKay first, 1977: red paper-covered boards with title stamped in black on the spine, octavo; jacket designed by Erik Sundgaard
- The first Sharon McCone novel, widely credited with establishing the modern female private-eye series
- Publisher imprint reads David McKay
- Not a book-club edition (see below)

| | |
|---|---|
| Author | Marcia Muller |
| Publisher | David McKay |
| Year | 1977 |
| True first | US edition |
| Format | Hardcover (trade) |
| Key point | US David McKay first, 1977: red paper-covered boards with title stamped in black on the spine, octavo; jacket designed by Erik Sundgaard |
| Book-club edition exists? | — |

## Points of issue
US David McKay first, 1977: red paper-covered boards with title stamped in black on the spine, octavo; jacket designed by Erik Sundgaard. The first Sharon McCone novel, widely credited with establishing the modern female private-eye series.

## Is this the true first?
The US David McKay 1977 hardcover is the true first.

## Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Later Mysterious Press / Warner reprints carry their own imprints and are clearly later issues.

## Source
New Mexico Literacy Project — Is *Edwin of the Iron Shoes* by Marcia Muller a first edition? https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/first-edition/edwin-of-the-iron-shoes
CC BY 4.0. Part of the Canonical First-Edition Points of Issue dataset (https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/api/first-edition-titles.json). Last reviewed 2026-07-04.