# Is "The Scarlet Ruse" by John D. MacDonald a First Edition?

> **Quick answer.** A first edition of The Scarlet Ruse by John D. MacDonald (Fawcett Gold Medal, 1973) is identified by: Fawcett Gold Medal paperback original, 1973, first printing. Issued only as a Gold Medal paperback original; the paperback is the true first edition, preceding any later hardbound reissue.

**Checklist — a true first has these:**
- Fawcett Gold Medal paperback original, 1973, first printing
- Travis McGee series #14
- First printing carries the Gold Medal cover price and lacks later-printing rear advertisements
- Publisher imprint reads Fawcett Gold Medal
- Not a book-club edition (see below)

| | |
|---|---|
| Author | John D. MacDonald |
| Publisher | Fawcett Gold Medal |
| Year | 1973 |
| True first | — |
| Format | Hardcover (trade) |
| Key point | Fawcett Gold Medal paperback original, 1973, first printing |
| Book-club edition exists? | Yes |

## Points of issue
Fawcett Gold Medal paperback original, 1973, first printing. Travis McGee series #14. First printing carries the Gold Medal cover price and lacks later-printing rear advertisements.

## Is this the true first?
Issued only as a Gold Medal paperback original; the paperback is the true first edition, preceding any later hardbound reissue.

## Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
No book-club edition applies. Later printings differ by printing statement or catalog number.

## Source
New Mexico Literacy Project — Is *The Scarlet Ruse* by John D. MacDonald a first edition? https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/first-edition/the-scarlet-ruse
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.