# Is "Murder for the Bride" by John D. MacDonald a First Edition?

> **Quick answer.** A first edition of Murder for the Bride by John D. MacDonald (Fawcett Gold Medal, 1951) is identified by: Gold Medal paperback original, 1951 (published June 1951). Paperback original; the true first.

**Checklist — a true first has these:**
- Gold Medal paperback original, 1951 (published June 1951)
- A first-printing copy carries no later-printing notation on the copyright page
- Standalone title
- Publisher imprint reads Fawcett Gold Medal
- Not a book-club edition (see below)

| | |
|---|---|
| Author | John D. MacDonald |
| Publisher | Fawcett Gold Medal |
| Year | 1951 |
| True first | — |
| Format | Hardcover (trade) |
| Key point | Gold Medal paperback original, 1951 (published June 1951) |
| Book-club edition exists? | — |

## Points of issue
Gold Medal paperback original, 1951 (published June 1951). A first-printing copy carries no later-printing notation on the copyright page. Standalone title.

## Is this the true first?
Paperback original; the true first.

## Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Not applicable to a PBO. Later printings are identified by a notation on the copyright page.

## Source
New Mexico Literacy Project — Is *Murder for the Bride* by John D. MacDonald a first edition? https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/first-edition/murder-for-the-bride
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.