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. 33-19659-01


                           PARKER & PARSLEY 88-A, L.P.
             (Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)


              Delaware                                      75-2225738
   (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 88-A, L.P.

                                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 88-A, L.P.
                        (A Delaware 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 $219,621 at June 30
    and $178,702 at December 31                    $   220,021     $   179,202
  Accounts receivable - oil and gas sales              134,310         228,344
                                                    ----------      ----------
        Total current assets                           354,331         407,546
                                                    ----------      ----------
Oil and gas properties - at cost, based on the
  successful efforts accounting method              10,080,508      10,070,081
Accumulated depletion                               (6,661,911)     (6,537,411)
                                                    ----------      ----------
        Net oil and gas properties                   3,418,597       3,532,670
                                                    ----------      ----------
                                                   $ 3,772,928     $ 3,940,216
                                                    ==========      ==========
LIABILITIES AND PARTNERS' CAPITAL

Current liabilities:
  Accounts payable - affiliate                     $    34,966     $    25,585

Partners' capital:
  Managing general partner                              37,621          39,388
  Limited partners (12,935 interests)                3,700,341       3,875,243
                                                    ----------      ----------
                                                     3,737,962       3,914,631
                                                    ----------      ----------
                                                   $ 3,772,928     $ 3,940,216
                                                    ==========      ==========


   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 88-A, L.P.
                        (A Delaware Limited Partnership)

                            STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
                                   (Unaudited)



                                 Three months ended        Six months ended
                                      June 30,                 June 30,
                               ---------------------    ---------------------
                                  1997        1996         1997        1996
                               ---------   ---------    ---------   ---------
Revenues:
  Oil and gas                  $ 264,483   $ 343,199    $ 595,354   $ 654,675
  Interest                         3,363       3,134        6,064       5,751
                                --------    --------     --------    --------
                                 267,846     346,333      601,418     660,426
                                --------    --------     --------    --------
Costs and expenses:
  Oil and gas production         121,096     127,493      261,843     256,767
  General and administrative       8,035      10,296       17,961      19,640
  Depletion                       61,482      62,908      124,500     131,492
                                --------    --------     --------    --------
                                 190,613     200,697      404,304     407,899
                                --------    --------     --------    --------
Net income                     $  77,233   $ 145,636    $ 197,114   $ 252,527
                                ========    ========     ========    ========
Allocation of net income:
  Managing general partner     $     772   $   1,456    $   1,971   $   2,525
                                ========    ========     ========    ========
  Limited partners             $  76,461   $ 144,180    $ 195,143   $ 250,002
                                ========    ========     ========    ========
Net income per limited
  partnership interest         $    5.91   $   11.15    $   15.09   $   19.33
                                ========    ========     ========    ========
Distributions per limited
  partnership interest         $   13.92   $   14.30    $   28.61   $   25.81
                                ========    ========     ========    ========


         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 88-A, L.P.
                        (A Delaware Limited Partnership)

                         STATEMENT OF PARTNERS' CAPITAL
                                   (Unaudited)




                                     Managing
                                     general       Limited
                                     partner       partners        Total
                                    ---------     ----------     ----------

Balance at January 1, 1997          $  39,388     $3,875,243     $3,914,631

    Distributions                      (3,738)      (370,045)      (373,783)

    Net income                          1,971        195,143        197,114
                                     --------      ---------      ---------

Balance at June 30, 1997            $  37,621     $3,700,341     $3,737,962
                                     ========      =========      =========







         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 88-A, L.P.
                        (A Delaware Limited Partnership)

                            STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
                                   (Unaudited)


                                                          Six months ended
                                                               June 30,
                                                      ------------------------
                                                         1997          1996
                                                      ----------    ----------
Cash flows from operating activities:

  Net income                                          $  197,114    $  252,527
  Adjustments to reconcile net income to net
     cash provided by operating activities:
       Depletion                                         124,500       131,492
  Changes in assets and liabilities:
       (Increase) decrease in accounts receivable         94,034       (10,459)
       Increase (decrease) in accounts payable             9,381       (13,107)
                                                       ---------     ---------
         Net cash provided by operating activities       425,029       360,453
                                                       ---------     ---------
Cash flows from investing activities:

  Additions to oil and gas properties                    (10,427)       (1,144)

Cash flows from financing activities:

  Cash distributions to partners                        (373,783)     (337,211)
                                                       ---------     ---------
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents                 40,819        22,098
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period         179,202       213,046
                                                       ---------     ---------
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period            $  220,021    $  235,144
                                                       =========     =========




         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 88-A, L.P.
                        (A Delaware 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 88-A, L.P. (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 9% to $595,354 from $654,675
for the six months  ended June 30, 1997 as compared to the six months ended June
30, 1996. The decrease in revenues  resulted from 12% decrease in barrels of oil
produced  and sold and a 7% decrease in mcf of gas produced and sold and a lower
average price  received per barrel of oil,  offset by an increase in the average
price  received per mcf of gas.  For the six months ended June 30, 1997,  19,690
barrels  of oil were sold  compared  to 22,392  for the same  period in 1996,  a
decrease of 2,702 barrels. For the six months ended June 30, 1997, 78,919 mcf of
gas were sold  compared  to 85,169 for the same  period in 1996,  a decrease  of
6,250 mcf. The  production  volume  decreases  were primarily due to the decline
characteristics of the Partnership's oil and gas properties.  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 $20.54 for
the six months  ended June 30,  1996 to $20.38 for the same period in 1997 while
the average price received per mcf of gas increased 7% from $2.29 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.

Costs and Expenses:

Total costs and expenses decreased to $404,304 for the six months ended June 30,
1997 as compared to $407,899  for the same period in 1996, a decrease of $3,595.
This  decrease was due to declines in depletion  and general and  administrative
expenses ("G&A"), offset by an increase in production costs.

Production  costs  were  $261,843  for the six months  ended  June 30,  1997 and
$256,767  for the  same  period  in 1996  resulting  in a $5,076  increase.  The
increase  was  primarily  the result of higher  workover  expenses,  offset by a
decline in well repair and maintenance costs.

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, 9% from $19,640 for the six months ended June 30, 1996
to $17,961 for the same period in 1997.

Depletion  was  $124,500  for the six months  ended June 30,  1997  compared  to
$131,492 for the same period in 1996.  This  represented a decrease in depletion
of $6,992, or 5%.

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

Revenues:

The Partnership's  oil and gas revenues  decreased 23% to $264,483 from $343,199
for the three  months  ended June 30, 1997 as compared to the three months ended
June 30,  1996.  The decrease in revenues  resulted  from lower  average  prices
received  per  barrel of oil and mcf of gas,  a 14%  decrease  in barrels of oil
produced  and sold and a 7% decrease in mcf of gas  produced  and sold.  For the
three  months ended June 30, 1997,  9,461  barrels of oil were sold  compared to
11,023 for the same period in 1996, a decrease of 1,562  barrels.  For the three
months ended June 30, 1997,  39,490 mcf of gas were sold  compared to 42,503 for
the same  period  in 1996,  a  decrease  of 3,013  mcf.  The  production  volume
decreases were primarily due to the decline characteristics of the Partnership's
oil and gas properties.

The average  price  received per barrel of oil  decreased  $3.25,  or 15%,  from
$22.04 for the three months ended June 30, 1996 to $18.79 for the same period in
1997 and the  average  price  received  per mcf of gas  decreased  7% from $2.36
during the three months ended June 30, 1996 to $2.20 in 1997.

                                        8

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Costs and Expenses:

Total costs and  expenses  decreased to $190,613 for the three months ended June
30,  1997 as compared  to  $200,697  for the same period in 1996,  a decrease of
$10,084,  or 5%. This decrease was due to a decline in production costs, G&A and
depletion.

Production  costs were  $121,096  for the three  months  ended June 30, 1997 and
$127,493 for the same period in 1996 resulting in a $6,397 decrease,  or 5%. The
decrease was due to a decline in production taxes and ad valorem taxes.

G&A's  components are independent  accounting and engineering  fees and managing
general partner personnel and operating costs. During this period, G&A decreased
22% from $10,296 for the three months ended June 30, 1996 to $8,035 for the same
period in 1997.

Depletion  was $61,482  for the three  months  ended June 30,  1997  compared to
$62,908 for the same period in 1996. This represented a decrease in depletion of
$1,426.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

Net Cash Provided by Operating Activities

Net cash  provided by  operating  activities  increased  $64,576  during the six
months  ended  June 30,  1997 from the same  period  ended June 30,  1996.  This
increase was  primarily  due to an increase in oil and gas sales  receipts and a
decrease in production costs paid.

Net Cash Used in  Investing Activities

The  Partnership's  principal  investing  activities during the six months ended
June 30,  1997 and 1996  included  expenditures  for  equipment  replacement  on
various oil and gas 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 $373,783 of which $3,738 was distributed to the
managing  general  partner and  $370,045 to the limited  partners.  For the same
period  ended  June 30,  1996,  cash was  sufficient  for  distributions  to the
partners of $337,211 of which $3,372 was  distributed  to the  managing  general
partner and $333,839 to the limited partners.

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.

                                        9

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

(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 88-A, L.P.
                        (A Delaware 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 88-A, L.P.

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




Dated:  August 13, 1997         By:   /s/ Rich Dealy
                                      --------------------------------
                                      Rich Dealy, Controller of PPUSA



                                       11

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