# Is "The Hot Rock (Dortmunder #1)" by Donald E. Westlake a First Edition?

> **Quick answer.** A first edition of The Hot Rock (Dortmunder #1) by Donald E. Westlake (Simon & Schuster, 1970) is identified by: Simon & Schuster (New York) 1970 hardcover is the first edition. The US Simon & Schuster hardcover is the true first.

**Checklist — a true first has these:**
- Simon & Schuster (New York) 1970 hardcover is the first edition
- Simon & Schuster firsts of this period are stated FIRST PRINTING on the copyright page
- This is the first John Dortmunder novel, a key comic-crime collectible
- Publisher imprint reads Simon & Schuster
- Not a book-club edition (see below)

| | |
|---|---|
| Author | Donald E. Westlake |
| Publisher | Simon & Schuster |
| Year | 1970 |
| True first | US edition |
| Format | Hardcover (trade) |
| Key point | Simon & Schuster (New York) 1970 hardcover is the first edition |
| Book-club edition exists? | Yes |

## Points of issue
Simon & Schuster (New York) 1970 hardcover is the first edition. Simon & Schuster firsts of this period are stated FIRST PRINTING on the copyright page. This is the first John Dortmunder novel, a key comic-crime collectible.

## Is this the true first?
The US Simon & Schuster hardcover is the true first.

## Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Book-club editions of this era are typically identifiable by a blind-stamped dot or square on the rear board and by a jacket with no printed price on the front flap. The specific book-club tell was not independently confirmed, so rely on the general points and the absence of the stated FIRST PRINTING line.

## Source
New Mexico Literacy Project — Is *The Hot Rock (Dortmunder #1)* by Donald E. Westlake a first edition? https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/first-edition/the-hot-rock-dortmunder-1
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.