# Is "Murder for the Bride" by John D. MacDonald a First Edition?

> **Quick answer.** A first edition of Murder for the Bride by John D. MacDonald (Fawcett Gold Medal, 1951) is identified by: Fawcett Gold Medal paperback original, 1951, issued as Gold Medal number 164; a first-printing copy carries no later-printing notation on the copyright page. Paperback original; the true first.

**Checklist — a true first has these:**
- Fawcett Gold Medal paperback original, 1951, issued as Gold Medal number 164; a first-printing copy carries no later-printing notation on the copyright page
- Pictorial wrappers with cover art by Barye Phillips
- Standalone title; among MacDonald's early paperback originals
- Publisher imprint reads Fawcett Gold Medal
- Not a book-club edition (see below)

| | |
|---|---|
| Author | John D. MacDonald |
| Publisher | Fawcett Gold Medal |
| Year | 1951 |
| True first | — |
| Format | Hardcover (trade) |
| Key point | Fawcett Gold Medal paperback original, 1951, issued as Gold Medal number 164; a first-printing copy carries no later-printing notation on… |
| Book-club edition exists? | No |

## Points of issue
Fawcett Gold Medal paperback original, 1951, issued as Gold Medal number 164; a first-printing copy carries no later-printing notation on the copyright page. Pictorial wrappers with cover art by Barye Phillips. Standalone title; among MacDonald's early paperback originals.

## Is this the true first?
Paperback original; the true first. The Gold Medal number 164 identifies the first printing; later Gold Medal reissues carry different serial numbers.

## Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Not applicable to a paperback original. Later printings are identified by a notation on the copyright page and by a changed Gold Medal serial number on the cover and spine.

## Source
New Mexico Literacy Project — Is *Murder for the Bride* by John D. MacDonald a first edition? https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/first-edition/murder-for-the-bride
CC BY 4.0. Part of the Canonical First-Edition Points of Issue dataset (https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/api/first-edition-titles.json). Last reviewed 2026-07-04.