The points of issue
Delacorte Press first, 1974; designated a 'Delacorte Suspense Novel of the Year'; copyright page states 'First printing' (Delacorte of this period used a stated 'First printing,' not a number line). First-issue black dust jacket lettered in red with the gun-and-film-reel graphic and the printed flap price.
Is this the true first?
US Delacorte (1974) is the true first; the UK Secker & Warburg edition followed the same year. One of Leonard's first crime hardcovers; the black jacket is notoriously hard to find without flaws.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Book-club editions lack the printed flap price and typically show a blind-stamped dot to the rear board; later printings drop the 'First printing' statement.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Fifty-Two Pickup a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: Delacorte Press first, 1974; designated a 'Delacorte Suspense Novel of the Year'; copyright page states 'First printing' (Delacorte of this period used a stated 'First printing,' not a number line). First-issue black dust jacket lettered in red with the gun-and-film-reel graphic and the printed flap price.
How do I tell the first printing from a later one?
Check the copyright page for the publisher's first-printing convention and confirm the points above. US Delacorte (1974) is the true first; the UK Secker & Warburg edition followed the same year. One of Leonard's first crime hardcovers; the black jacket is notoriously hard to find without flaws.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Book-club editions lack the printed flap price and typically show a blind-stamped dot to the rear board; later printings drop the 'First printing' statement.
I have a first edition of Fifty-Two Pickup — what should I do?
If you're clearing books, New Mexico Literacy Project offers free pickup in Albuquerque, any condition, and makes sure collectible copies aren't lost. To sell, see the author's collecting guide. Either way, nothing valuable ends up in a landfill.