UNITED STATES
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             WASHINGTON, D. C. 20549


                                    FORM 10-Q


      / x /      Quarterly Report Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)
                     of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934


                  For the quarterly period ended June 30, 1997
                                       or

      /   /     Transition Report Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)
                     of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
                For the transition period from _______ to _______


                          Commission File No. 2-81398A


                           PARKER & PARSLEY 83-A, LTD.
             (Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)

               Texas                                        75-1891384
   (State or other jurisdiction of                       (I.R.S. Employer
   incorporation or organization)                     Identification Number)

303 West Wall, Suite 101, Midland, Texas                       79701
(Address of principal executive offices)                     (Zip code)

       Registrant's Telephone Number, including area code : (915) 683-4768

                                 Not applicable
              (Former name, former address and former fiscal year,
                          if changed since last report)

Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant (1) has filed all reports required
to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during
the  preceding 12 months (or for such  shorter  period that the  Registrant  was
required  to file  such  reports),  and  (2) has  been  subject  to such  filing
requirements for the past 90 days.

                                Yes / x / No / /

                               Page 1 of 11 pages.
                            Exhibit index on page 10.


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                           PARKER & PARSLEY 83-A, LTD.

                                TABLE OF CONTENTS


                                                                        Page
                                                                        ----
                          Part I. Financial Information

Item 1.    Financial Statements

           Balance Sheets as of June 30, 1997 and
              December 31, 1996   ....................................    3

           Statements of Operations for the three and six
             months ended June 30, 1997 and 1996......................    4

           Statement of Partners' Capital for the six months
             ended June 30, 1997......................................    5

           Statements of Cash Flows for the six months
             ended June 30, 1997 and 1996.............................    6

           Notes to Financial Statements..............................    7

Item 2.    Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial
             Condition and Results of Operations......................    7


                      Part II. Other Information

Item 6.    Exhibits and Reports on Form 8-K...........................   10

           27.  Financial Data Schedule

           Signatures.................................................   11


                                        2

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                           PARKER & PARSLEY 83-A, LTD.
                          (A Texas Limited Partnership)

                          Part I. Financial Information

Item 1.   Financial Statements
                                 BALANCE SHEETS
                                                    June 30,      December 31,
                                                      1997            1996
                                                  ------------    ------------
                                                   (Unaudited)
                      ASSETS

Current assets:
  Cash and cash equivalents, including interest
     bearing deposits of $196,273 at June 30
     and $171,164 at December 31                  $    196,973    $    171,664
  Accounts receivable - oil and gas sales              167,188         271,000
                                                   -----------     -----------
          Total current assets                         364,161         442,664
                                                   -----------     -----------
Oil and gas properties - at cost, based on the
  successful efforts accounting method              17,824,353      17,822,921
Accumulated depletion                              (13,969,308)    (13,806,313)
                                                   -----------     -----------
          Net oil and gas properties                 3,855,045       4,016,608
                                                   -----------     -----------
                                                  $  4,219,206    $  4,459,272
                                                   ===========     ===========
LIABILITIES AND PARTNERS' CAPITAL

Current liabilities:
  Accounts payable - affiliate                    $     51,841    $     38,807

Partners' capital:
  General partners                                     461,457         492,167
  Limited partners (19,505 interests)                3,705,908       3,928,298
                                                   -----------     -----------
                                                     4,167,365       4,420,465
                                                   -----------     -----------
                                                  $  4,219,206    $  4,459,272
                                                   ===========     ===========


   The financial information included as of June 30, 1997 has been prepared by
           management without audit by independent public accountants.

              The accompanying notes are an integral part of these
                             financial statements.

                                        3

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                           PARKER & PARSLEY 83-A, LTD.
                          (A Texas Limited Partnership)

                            STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
                                   (Unaudited)


                                  Three months ended        Six months ended
                                       June 30,                 June 30,
                                ----------------------   ----------------------
                                   1997        1996         1997        1996
                                ---------   ----------   ---------   ----------
Revenues:
  Oil and gas                   $ 340,309   $  425,650   $ 728,771   $  819,960
  Interest                          2,931        4,663      5,679       8,700
  Salvage income from equipment
    disposals                         -            924         -            924
  Litigation settlement               -        852,211         -        852,211
                                 --------    ---------    --------    ---------
                                  343,240    1,283,448     734,450    1,681,795
                                 --------    ---------    --------    ---------
Costs and expenses:
  Oil and gas production          210,578      179,370     439,832      360,765
  General and administrative       11,715       15,016      25,153       27,095
  Depletion                        84,331       82,863     162,995      167,798
                                 --------    ---------    --------    ---------
                                  306,624      277,249     627,980      555,658
                                 --------    ---------    --------    ---------
Net income                      $  36,616   $1,006,199   $ 106,470   $1,126,137
                                 ========    =========    ========    =========
Allocation of net income:
  General partners              $  22,180   $  234,036   $  51,889   $  276,823
                                 ========    =========    ========    =========
  Limited partners              $  14,436   $  772,163   $  54,581   $  849,314
                                 ========    =========    ========    =========
Net income per limited
  partnership interest          $     .74   $    39.58   $    2.80   $    43.54
                                 ========    =========    ========    =========
Distributions per limited
  partnership interest          $    6.00   $    42.83   $   14.20   $    49.03
                                 ========    =========    ========    =========


        The financial information included herein has been prepared by
          management without audit by independent public accountants.

              The accompanying notes are an integral part of these
                             financial statements.

                                        4

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                           PARKER & PARSLEY 83-A, LTD.
                          (A Texas Limited Partnership)

                         STATEMENT OF PARTNERS' CAPITAL
                                   (Unaudited)




                                       General        Limited
                                       partners       partners        Total
                                      ----------     ----------     ----------

Balance at January 1, 1997            $  492,167     $3,928,298     $4,420,465

   Distributions                         (82,599)      (276,971)      (359,570)

   Net income                             51,889         54,581        106,470
                                       ---------      ---------      ---------

Balance at June 30, 1997              $  461,457     $3,705,908     $4,167,365
                                       =========      =========      =========







         The financial information included herein has been prepared by
           management without audit by independent public accountants.

              The accompanying notes are an integral part of these
                             financial statements.

                                        5

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                           PARKER & PARSLEY 83-A, LTD.
                          (A Texas Limited Partnership)

                            STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
                                   (Unaudited)

                                                         Six months ended
                                                              June 30,
                                                     --------------------------
                                                        1997           1996
                                                     ----------     -----------
Cash flows from operating activities:
  Net income                                         $  106,470     $ 1,126,137
  Adjustments to reconcile net income to net
     cash provided by operating activities:
       Depletion                                        162,995         167,798
       Salvage income from equipment disposals              -              (924)
  Changes in assets and liabilities:
     (Increase) decrease in accounts receivable         103,812         (13,555)
     Increase (decrease) in accounts payable             13,034         (50,592)
                                                      ---------      ----------
         Net cash provided by operating activities      386,311       1,228,864
                                                      ---------      ----------
Cash flows from investing activities:
  Additions to oil and gas properties                    (1,432)           (126)
  Proceeds from salvage income on equipment
    disposals                                               -               924
                                                      ---------      ----------
         Net cash provided by (used in) investing
           activities                                    (1,432)            798
                                                      ---------      ----------
Cash flows from financing activities:
  Cash distributions to partners                       (359,570)     (1,239,137)
                                                      ---------      ----------
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents     25,309          (9,475)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period        171,664         377,780
                                                      ---------      ----------
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period           $  196,973     $   368,305
                                                      =========      ==========


         The financial information included herein has been prepared by
           management without audit by independent public accountants.

              The accompanying notes are an integral part of these
                             financial statements.

                                        6

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                           PARKER & PARSLEY 83-A, LTD.
                          (A Texas Limited Partnership)

                          NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
                                  June 30, 1997
                                   (Unaudited)


Note 1.     Basis of presentation

In the opinion of  management,  the unaudited  financial  statements of Parker &
Parsley 83-A, Ltd. (the "Partnership") as of June 30, 1997 and for the three and
six months  ended June 30, 1997 and 1996  include all  adjustments  and accruals
consisting only of normal recurring accrual  adjustments which are necessary for
a fair presentation of the results for the interim period. These interim results
are not necessarily indicative of results for a full year.

Certain  information  and  footnote  disclosure  normally  included in financial
statements prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting  principles
have been  condensed  or  omitted  in this Form 10-Q  pursuant  to the rules and
regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission.  The financial statements
should  be read in  conjunction  with the  financial  statements  and the  notes
thereto  contained in the  Partnership's  Report on Form 10-K for the year ended
December 31, 1996, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission,  a copy
of which is  available  upon request by writing to Rich Dealy,  Controller,  303
West Wall, Suite 101, Midland, Texas 79701.

Item 2.     Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition
              and Results of Operations (1)

Results of Operations

Six months ended June 30, 1997 compared with six months ended
  June 30, 1996

Revenues:

The Partnership's  oil and gas revenues  decreased 11% to $728,771 from $819,960
for the six months  ended June 30,  1997 as compared to the same period in 1996.
The decrease in revenues  resulted from a 15% decline in mcf of gas produced and
sold, a 10% decline in barrels of oil produced and sold and a slight  decline in
the average price  received per barrel of oil,  offset by a higher average price
received per mcf of gas. For the six months ended June 30, 1997,  25,751 barrels
of oil were sold  compared to 28,761 for the same period in 1996,  a decrease of
3,010  barrels.  For the six months ended June 30, 1997,  83,941 mcf of gas were
sold  compared to 98,623 for the same period in 1996,  a decrease of 14,682 mcf.
The  decreases  in  production   volumes  were  primarily  due  to  the  decline
characteristics  of the Partnership's  oil and gas properties.  Because of these
characteristics, management expects a certain amount of decline in production to
continue in the future until the Partnership's economically recoverable reserves
are fully depleted.

                                        7

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The average price received per barrel of oil decreased  slightly from $20.43 for
the six months ended June 30, 1996 to $20.28 for the same period in 1997,  while
the average price received per mcf of gas increased 4% from $2.36 during the six
months  ended June 30, 1996 to $2.46 in 1997.  The market  price for oil and gas
has been extremely volatile in the past decade, and management expects a certain
amount of volatility to continue in the foreseeable  future. The Partnership may
therefore  sell its future oil and gas  production  at average  prices  lower or
higher than that received during the six months ended June 30, 1997.

Salvage  income of $924 was  received  during the six months ended June 30, 1996
from equipment credits received on two fully depleted wells.

On April 29, 1996, Southmark  Corporation,  the managing general partner and the
Partnership entered into a final $7.4 million settlement  agreement with Jack N.
Price resolving all outstanding litigation between the parties. As a result, all
of the pending lawsuits and judgments have been dismissed,  the supersedeas bond
released,  and the Reserve  released as  collateral.  On June 28,  1996, a final
distribution was made to the working interest owners of $852,211, which includes
$669,535, or $34.33 per limited partnership interest, to the Partnership and its
partners.

Costs and Expenses:

Total costs and expenses increased to $627,980 for the six months ended June 30,
1997 as  compared  to  $555,658  for the same  period in 1996,  an  increase  of
$72,322,  or 13%.  This  increase was primarily due to an increase in production
costs, offset by decreases in depletion and general and administrative  expenses
("G&A").

Production  costs  were  $439,832  for the six months  ended  June 30,  1997 and
$360,765 for the same period in 1996  resulting in a $79,067  increase,  or 22%.
The increase was due to additional well repair and maintenance costs incurred in
an effort to stimulate well production.

G&A's  components are independent  accounting and engineering  fees and managing
general  partner  personnel  and  operating  costs.   During  this  period,  G&A
decreased,  in aggregate, 7% from $27,095 for the six months ended June 30, 1996
to $25,153 for the same period in 1997.

Depletion  was  $162,995  for the six months  ended June 30,  1997  compared  to
$167,798 for the same period in 1996.  This  represented a decrease in depletion
of $4,803, or 3%.

Three months ended June 30, 1997 compared with three months ended
  June 30, 1996

Revenues:

The Partnership's  oil and gas revenues  decreased 20% to $340,309 for the three
months  ended June 30, 1997 from  $425,650  for the same  period  ended June 30,
1996. The decrease in revenues  resulted from lower average prices  received per

                                        8

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barrel of oil and mcf of gas, an 8% decline in barrels of oil  produced and sold
and a slight decline in mcf of gas produced and sold. For the three months ended
June 30, 1997,  12,764  barrels of oil were sold compared to 13,819 for the same
period in 1996, a decrease of 1,055 barrels. For the three months ended June 30,
1997,  47,899 mcf of  gas were sold  compared to  48,665 for the same period  in

1996, a decrease of 766 mcf. The decreases in production  volumes were primarily
due to the decline characteristics of the Partnership's oil and gas properties.

The average  price  received per barrel of oil  decreased  $3.43,  or 15%,  from
$22.14 for the three months ended June 30, 1996 to $18.71 for the same period in
1997, while the average price received per mcf of gas decreased 14% to $2.12 for
the three months ended June 30, 1997 from $2.46 in 1996.

Salvage  income of $924 was  received  during the six months ended June 30, 1996
from equipment credits received on two fully depleted wells.

On April 29, 1996, Southmark  Corporation,  the managing general partner and the
Partnership entered into a final $7.4 million settlement  agreement with Jack N.
Price resolving all outstanding litigation between the parties. As a result, all
of the pending lawsuits and judgments have been dismissed,  the supersedeas bond
released,  and the Reserve  released as  collateral.  On June 28,  1996, a final
distribution was made to the working interest owners of $852,211, which includes
$669,535, or $34.33 per limited partnership interest, to the Partnership and its
partners.

Costs and Expenses:

Total costs and  expenses  increased to $306,624 for the three months ended June
30, 1997 as compared  to  $277,249  for the same period in 1996,  an increase of
$29,375,  or 11%.  This  increase was due to increases in  production  costs and
depletion, offset by a decrease in G&A.

Production  costs were  $210,578  for the three  months  ended June 30, 1997 and
$179,370 for the same period in 1996  resulting in a $31,208  increase,  or 17%.
The increase  was  primarily  due to an increase in well repair and  maintenance
costs incurred in an effort to stimulate well production.

G&A's  components are independent  accounting and engineering  fees and managing
general  partner  personnel  and  operating  costs.   During  this  period,  G&A
decreased,  in  aggregate,  22% from $15,016 for the three months ended June 30,
1996 to $11,715 for the same period in 1997.

Depletion  was $84,331  for the three  months  ended June 30,  1997  compared to
$82,863 for the same period in 1996.  This  represented an increase in depletion
of $1,468, or 2%.

                                        9

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Liquidity and Capital Resources

Net Cash Provided by Operating Activities

Net cash  provided by operating  activities  decreased  $842,553  during the six
months ended June 30, 1997 from the same period in 1996.  This  decrease was due
to the receipt of proceeds from the  litigation  settlement as discussed in Item
2, offset by an increase in oil and gas sales receipts.

Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Investing Activities

The  Partnership's  investment  activities  during the six months ended June 30,
1997 and 1996 were related to the addition or disposal of oil and gas  equipment
on active properties.

During the six months ended June 30, 1996,  proceeds of $924 were  received from
the disposal of oil and gas equipment on two fully depleted properties.

Net Cash Used in Financing Activities

Cash  was   sufficient  for  the  six  months  ended  June  30,  1997  to  cover
distributions  to the partners of $359,570 of which $82,599 was  distributed  to
the general partners and $276,971 to the limited  partners.  For the same period
ended June 30, 1996,  cash was sufficient for  distributions  to the partners of
$1,239,137  of which  $282,877  was  distributed  to the  general  partners  and
$956,260  to  the  limited  partners.  Cash  distributions  to the  partners  of
$1,239,137  for the six months  ended June 30,  1996  included  $182,676  to the
general partners and $669,535 to the limited  partners,  resulting from proceeds
received in the litigation settlement as discussed in Item 2.

It is expected  that future net cash  provided by operating  activities  will be
sufficient for any capital expenditures and any distributions. As the production
from the properties declines, distributions are also expected to decrease.

---------------

(1)    "Item 2. Management's  Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and
       Results of Operations"  contains forward looking  statements that involve
       risks and uncertainties. Accordingly, no assurances can be given that the
       actual  events and  results  will not be  materially  different  than the
       anticipated results described in the forward looking statements.

                           Part II. Other Information

Item 6.     Exhibits and Reports on Form 8-K

(a)    Exhibits
       27.   Financial Data Schedule

(b)    Reports on Form 8-K - none

                                       10

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                           PARKER & PARSLEY 83-A, LTD.
                          (A Texas Limited Partnership)



                               S I G N A T U R E S



      Pursuant to the  requirements of the Securities  Exchange Act of 1934, the
Registrant  has duly  caused  this  report  to be  signed  on its  behalf by the
undersigned thereunto duly authorized.


                                       PARKER & PARSLEY 83-A, LTD.

                                  By:  Parker & Parsley Development L.P.,
                                        Managing General Partner
                                       By:  Parker & Parsley Petroleum USA, Inc.
                                             ("PPUSA"), General Partner




Dated:  August 12, 1997           By:    /s/ Rich Dealy
                                       --------------------------------
                                       Rich Dealy, Controller of PPUSA



                                       11

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