# Is "The Drowning Pool" by Ross Macdonald (as John Ross Macdonald) a First Edition?

> **Quick answer.** A first edition of The Drowning Pool by Ross Macdonald (as John Ross Macdonald) (Alfred A. Knopf, 1950) is identified by: Knopf, 1950, with 'FIRST EDITION' stated on the copyright page per Knopf's convention. The US Knopf edition is the true first.

**Checklist — a true first has these:**
- Alfred A. Knopf, 1950, with 'FIRST EDITION' stated on the copyright page per Knopf's convention
- Second Lew Archer novel; bylined John Ross Macdonald
- First-state jacket carries the original price on the front flap
- Publisher imprint reads Alfred A. Knopf
- Not a book-club edition (see below)

| | |
|---|---|
| Author | Ross Macdonald (as John Ross Macdonald) |
| Publisher | Alfred A. Knopf |
| Year | 1950 |
| True first | US edition |
| Format | Hardcover (trade) |
| Key point | Alfred A. Knopf, 1950, with 'FIRST EDITION' stated on the copyright page per Knopf's… |
| Book-club edition exists? | — |

## Points of issue
Alfred A. Knopf, 1950, with 'FIRST EDITION' stated on the copyright page per Knopf's convention. Second Lew Archer novel; bylined John Ross Macdonald. First-state jacket carries the original price on the front flap.

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

## Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Later Knopf printings drop the 'FIRST EDITION' statement.

## Source
New Mexico Literacy Project — Is *The Drowning Pool* by Ross Macdonald (as John Ross Macdonald) a first edition? https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/first-edition/the-drowning-pool
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.