# Is "The Burglar Who Liked to Quote Kipling" by Lawrence Block a First Edition?

> **Quick answer.** A first edition of The Burglar Who Liked to Quote Kipling by Lawrence Block (Random House, 1979) is identified by: Copyright page states 'First Edition' with a number line whose lowest number is 2 (Random House firsts of this era retain 'First Edition' with the 2 as the lowest digit, and do not print a 1). US Random House edition (1979) is the true first; third Bernie Rhodenbarr / 'Burglar' novel; a UK Hale hardcover (Robert Hale, ISBN 0-7091-8746-2) followed and is not the true first.

**Checklist — a true first has these:**
- Copyright page states 'First Edition' with a number line whose lowest number is 2 (Random House firsts of this era retain 'First Edition' with the 2 as the lowest digit, and do not print a 1)
- Bound with silver lettering stamped to the spine; issued in a pictorial dust jacket that should retain its printed price on the front flap of the true first
- 196 pages
- Publisher imprint reads Random House
- Not a book-club edition (see below)

| | |
|---|---|
| Author | Lawrence Block |
| Publisher | Random House |
| Year | 1979 |
| True first | US edition |
| Format | Hardcover (trade) |
| Key point | Copyright page states 'First Edition' with a number line whose lowest number is 2 (Random House firsts of this era retain 'First Edition'… |
| Book-club edition exists? | Yes |

## Points of issue
Copyright page states 'First Edition' with a number line whose lowest number is 2 (Random House firsts of this era retain 'First Edition' with the 2 as the lowest digit, and do not print a 1). Bound with silver lettering stamped to the spine; issued in a pictorial dust jacket that should retain its printed price on the front flap of the true first. 196 pages.

## Is this the true first?
US Random House edition (1979) is the true first; third Bernie Rhodenbarr / 'Burglar' novel; a UK Hale hardcover (Robert Hale, ISBN 0-7091-8746-2) followed and is not the true first.

## Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Book-club editions are printed on thinner bulk, lack the printed price on the jacket flap, carry a rear-board blindstamp, and do not show the Random House 'First Edition' / number-line statement; watch also for remainder marks to the bottom text-block edge, which appear on some trade copies.

## Source
New Mexico Literacy Project — Is *The Burglar Who Liked to Quote Kipling* by Lawrence Block a first edition? https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/first-edition/the-burglar-who-liked-to-quote-kipling
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.