# Is "The Mercenaries (UK: The Hunter)" by Donald E. Westlake a First Edition?

> **Quick answer.** A first edition of The Mercenaries (UK: The Hunter) by Donald E. Westlake (Random House, 1960) is identified by: Random House hardcover, New York 1960, with 'First Edition' stated on the copyright page (no additional printing line). The US Random House hardcover is the true first edition.

**Checklist — a true first has these:**
- Random House hardcover, New York 1960, with 'First Edition' stated on the copyright page (no additional printing line)
- Westlake's first novel under his own name
- Publisher imprint reads Random House
- Not a book-club edition (see below)

| | |
|---|---|
| Author | Donald E. Westlake |
| Publisher | Random House |
| Year | 1960 |
| True first | US edition |
| Format | Hardcover (trade) |
| Key point | Random House hardcover, New York 1960, with 'First Edition' stated on the copyright page… |
| Book-club edition exists? | Yes |

## Points of issue
Random House hardcover, New York 1960, with 'First Edition' stated on the copyright page (no additional printing line). Westlake's first novel under his own name.

## Is this the true first?
The US Random House hardcover is the true first edition. It was later reprinted in retitled form as The Smashers (Dell paperback, 1962); Westlake's own preferred title was The Cutie, used for a later reissue.

## Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Book-club editions lack the 'First Edition' statement and carry no price on the jacket flap.

## Source
New Mexico Literacy Project — Is *The Mercenaries (UK: The Hunter)* by Donald E. Westlake a first edition? https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/first-edition/the-mercenaries-uk-the-hunter
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.