# Is "The Green Ripper" by John D. MacDonald a First Edition?

> **Quick answer.** A first edition of The Green Ripper by John D. MacDonald (J.B. Lippincott, 1979) is identified by: Travis McGee #18; winner of the 1980 National Book Award in the mystery category. The US Lippincott hardcover is the true first edition.

**Checklist — a true first has these:**
- J.B. Lippincott, 1979
- Travis McGee #18; winner of the 1980 National Book Award in the mystery category
- First-issue dust jacket carries its original front-flap price 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 | 1979 |
| True first | US edition |
| Format | Hardcover (trade) |
| Key point | J.B. Lippincott, 1979 |
| Book-club edition exists? | Yes |

## Points of issue
J.B. Lippincott, 1979. Travis McGee #18; winner of the 1980 National Book Award in the mystery category. First-issue dust jacket carries its original front-flap price 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 lack the flap price and carry a blind-stamped dot on the rear cover.

## Source
New Mexico Literacy Project — Is *The Green Ripper* by John D. MacDonald a first edition? https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/first-edition/the-green-ripper
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.