# Is "The Dreadful Lemon Sky" by John D. MacDonald a First Edition?

> **Quick answer.** A first edition of The Dreadful Lemon Sky by John D. MacDonald (J.B. Lippincott, 1974) is identified by: Lippincott, Philadelphia, 1974. The US Lippincott hardcover is the true first edition.

**Checklist — a true first has these:**
- J.B. Lippincott, Philadelphia, 1974
- Travis McGee #16
- First printing has no number line on the copyright page and no printing code on the final page of text; the first-issue dust jacket carries its original price on the front flap and is unclipped
- Publisher imprint reads J.B. Lippincott
- Not a book-club edition (see below)

| | |
|---|---|
| Author | John D. MacDonald |
| Publisher | J.B. Lippincott |
| Year | 1974 |
| True first | US edition |
| Format | Hardcover (trade) |
| Key point | J.B. Lippincott, Philadelphia, 1974 |
| Book-club edition exists? | Yes |

## Points of issue
J.B. Lippincott, Philadelphia, 1974. Travis McGee #16. First printing has no number line on the copyright page and no printing code on the final page of text; the first-issue dust jacket carries its original price on the front flap and is unclipped.

## Is this the true first?
The US Lippincott hardcover is the true first edition.

## Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Book-club editions have no price on the jacket flap and carry a blind-stamped dot on the rear cover.

## Source
New Mexico Literacy Project — Is *The Dreadful Lemon Sky* by John D. MacDonald a first edition? https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/first-edition/the-dreadful-lemon-sky
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.