# 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, New York, 1960 — Westlake's first novel under his own name; octavo, 208 pp. The US Random House 1960 hardcover is the true first.

**Checklist — a true first has these:**
- Random House, New York, 1960 — Westlake's first novel under his own name; octavo, 208 pp
- Per Random House practice the copyright page states 'First Edition' (the line dropped on later printings), so a first shows 'First Edition' with no later-printing statement
- Issued in a priced first-issue dust jacket (price present at the front flap when unclipped)
- 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, New York, 1960 — Westlake's first novel under his own name; octavo, 208 pp |
| Book-club edition exists? | Yes |

## Points of issue
Random House, New York, 1960 — Westlake's first novel under his own name; octavo, 208 pp. Per Random House practice the copyright page states 'First Edition' (the line dropped on later printings), so a first shows 'First Edition' with no later-printing statement. Issued in a priced first-issue dust jacket (price present at the front flap when unclipped).

## Is this the true first?
The US Random House 1960 hardcover is the true first. The UK first followed from T. V. Boardman (London, 1961, in the 'American Bloodhound' line, dust-jacket art by Denis McLoughlin) and kept the SAME title, The Mercenaries — both are collected, US precedes UK. Alternate US titles: The Smashers (Dell paperback, 1962) and The Cutie (Westlake's own preferred title, used for the Hard Case Crime reissue, 2009). Do NOT list 'The Hunter' as a variant of this book: The Hunter (Pocket Books, 1962, as by Richard Stark) is the first Parker novel, a separate work.

## Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Book-club editions lack the 'First Edition' statement and carry no printed 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 2026-07-04.