# Is "The Burglar Who Studied Spinoza" by Lawrence Block a First Edition?

> **Quick answer.** A first edition of The Burglar Who Studied Spinoza by Lawrence Block (Random House, 1980) is identified by: Random House first printing, the fourth Bernie Rhodenbarr mystery. US Random House edition (New York) is the true first; the fourth Burglar/Bernie Rhodenbarr novel.

**Checklist — a true first has these:**
- Random House first printing, the fourth Bernie Rhodenbarr mystery
- The copyright page carries a number line whose lowest surviving digit is 2 (Random House omitted the 1 on firsts of this period), with no later-printing statement
- Bound in quarter black paper over orange paper boards with silver lettering on the spine
- The first-issue dust jacket was designed by Richard Adelson and should retain the printed price on the front flap
- Publisher imprint reads Random House
- Not a book-club edition (see below)

| | |
|---|---|
| Author | Lawrence Block |
| Publisher | Random House |
| Year | 1980 |
| True first | US edition |
| Format | Hardcover (trade) |
| Key point | Random House first printing, the fourth Bernie Rhodenbarr mystery |
| Book-club edition exists? | No |

## Points of issue
Random House first printing, the fourth Bernie Rhodenbarr mystery. The copyright page carries a number line whose lowest surviving digit is 2 (Random House omitted the 1 on firsts of this period), with no later-printing statement. Bound in quarter black paper over orange paper boards with silver lettering on the spine. The first-issue dust jacket was designed by Richard Adelson and should retain the printed price on the front flap.

## Is this the true first?
US Random House edition (New York) is the true first; the fourth Burglar/Bernie Rhodenbarr novel.

## Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
None significant; identify the first by the number line reading down to 2 and the priced Adelson jacket.

## Source
New Mexico Literacy Project — Is *The Burglar Who Studied Spinoza* by Lawrence Block a first edition? https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/first-edition/the-burglar-who-studied-spinoza
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.