# Is "The Burglar Who Painted Like Mondrian" by Lawrence Block a First Edition?

> **Quick answer.** A first edition of The Burglar Who Painted Like Mondrian by Lawrence Block (Arbor House, 1983) is identified by: Copyright page states First Edition; Arbor House first printings of this era rely on the stated First Edition rather than a number line. US Arbor House edition is the true first; fifth Burglar novel.

**Checklist — a true first has these:**
- Copyright page states First Edition
- Arbor House first printings of this era rely on the stated First Edition rather than a number line
- Priced dust jacket (jacket flap carries the original price) on the true first
- Publisher imprint reads Arbor House
- Not a book-club edition (see below)

| | |
|---|---|
| Author | Lawrence Block |
| Publisher | Arbor House |
| Year | 1983 |
| True first | US edition |
| Format | Hardcover (trade) |
| Key point | Copyright page states First Edition |
| Book-club edition exists? | — |

## Points of issue
Copyright page states First Edition; Arbor House first printings of this era rely on the stated First Edition rather than a number line. Priced dust jacket (jacket flap carries the original price) on the true first.

## Is this the true first?
US Arbor House edition is the true first; fifth Burglar novel.

## Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
None significant.

## Source
New Mexico Literacy Project — Is *The Burglar Who Painted Like Mondrian* by Lawrence Block a first edition? https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/first-edition/the-burglar-who-painted-like-mondrian
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.