The points of issue
US Houghton Mifflin first, 1974: the second Spenser novel; black cloth lettered in silver with a blue-and-red dust jacket; first printing has no later-printing statement on the copyright page. Parker later won the Edgar for the third Spenser novel, Promised Land (1977).
Is this the true first?
US Houghton Mifflin 1974 is the true first.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Book-club editions are smaller and lack the jacket price.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of God Save the Child a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: US Houghton Mifflin first, 1974: the second Spenser novel; black cloth lettered in silver with a blue-and-red dust jacket; first printing has no later-printing statement on the copyright page. Parker later won the Edgar for the third Spenser novel, Promised Land (1977).
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 Houghton Mifflin 1974 is the true first.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Book-club editions are smaller and lack the jacket price.
I have a first edition of God Save the Child — 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.