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The Maltese Falcon
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The Maltese Falcon Hardcover - 2022

by Dashiell Hammett


About this book

The Maltese Falcon, author Dashiell Hammett’s third novel, set the standard by which all subsequent detective fiction would be judged. Set in San Francisco in the late 1920s, the novel introduces us to private detective Sam Spade, who characterizes the archetype of the hard-boiled detective in his dead-pan pursuit of the recovery of a black figurine. Having worked for a time for the Pinkerton Detective Agency in San Francisco, Hammett reportedly drew upon his years as a detective in creating Spade and many of the other characters for The Maltese Falcon.

The Maltese Falcon was originally serialized in HL Mencken’s “pulp” magazine, Black Mask, beginning with the September 1929 issue. For publication of the book form, editor Blanche Knopf tried to tone down the overt sexuality of the magazine version, fearing the references would alienate readers, but Hammett prevailed. However, the 1941 film adaptation starring Humphrey Bogart and Mary Astor (the best known of the novel’s three film versions) excised the homosexual subtext of the novel due to Production Code restraints. Today, the movie is considered a film noir classic and the novel is ranked 56th on Modern Library’s “100 Best” English-language novels of the 20th century as well as 54th on The Guardian’s list of the 100 best novels.

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First Edition Identification

Originally published in serial form in the magazine Black Mask, it was published in book form by Alfred A. Knopf in New York in 1930. Bound in grey cloth, the book is perhaps more well-known for its iconic yellow dust-jacket, with its deco typeface and stark image of a perched falcon. As is the custom for Alfred Knopf from this period, the first edition is recognizable by the absence of any statement of printing on the copyright page. The first state dust jacket has an advertisement on the rear panel for Hammett's other novels, priced at $2.00. 

One of the most desirable of all modern first editions, the Maltese Falcon can fetch upwards of $100,000 in a pristine first state jacket, and easily five figures in a second state jacket. 

Details

  • Title The Maltese Falcon
  • Author Dashiell Hammett
  • Binding Hardcover
  • Pages 254
  • Volumes 1
  • Language ENG
  • Publisher Sanage Publishing House Llp
  • Date 2022-12-20
  • ISBN 9788196033194 / 8196033192
  • Weight 1.04 lbs (0.47 kg)
  • Dimensions 8.5 x 5.5 x 0.69 in (21.59 x 13.97 x 1.75 cm)
  • Dewey Decimal Code FIC
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The Maltese Falcon
Stock Photo: Cover May Be Different

The Maltese Falcon

by Hammett, Dashiell

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  • Hardcover
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ISBN 10 / ISBN 13
9788196033194 / 8196033192
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Sanage Publishing House Llp, 2022-12-20. hardcover. Good. 5x0x8. No dust jacket. Ex-library book with typical stickers and stampings. Priority Mail is available on this item. No international shipping.
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The Maltese Falcon
Stock Photo: Cover May Be Different

The Maltese Falcon

by Dashiell Hammett

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Binding
Hardcover
ISBN 10 / ISBN 13
9788196033194 / 8196033192
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The Maltese Falcon
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The Maltese Falcon

by Hammett, Dashiell

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Condition
New
ISBN 10 / ISBN 13
9788196033194 / 8196033192
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Sanage Publishing House Llp. New. Special order direct from the distributor
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NZ$53.68
NZ$24.84 shipping to USA
The Maltese Falcon
Stock Photo: Cover May Be Different

The Maltese Falcon

by Hammett, Dashiell

  • Used
  • Good
  • Hardcover
Condition
Used - Good
Binding
Hardcover
ISBN 10 / ISBN 13
9788196033194 / 8196033192
Quantity Available
1
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hardcover. Good. Access codes and supplements are not guaranteed with used items. May be an ex-library book.
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