The Maltese Falcon by Hammett, Dashiell - 1987

Franklin Center, Pennsylvania: The Franklin Library, 1987. Special contents copyright: 1986, 1987. Attractive 6" x 9" design. Navy buckram (full-cloth) boards, ornately detailed silver cover design, spine titles, light shelf wear. Cover design features the majestic entrancing eagle of the story in silver w/ray emanating surround by a patterned border of silver spades. Spine features crisp stylized silver titles, three raised bands, and echoing the design of cover w/pattern of spades. Pages fine. Red title and chapter headings w/motif header design. Bright silver page edges at all sides. Spade patterned endpapers on deep red endpapers. Bind fine; hinges intact. Fine, heavy book craftsmanship. Features a special eight-page photo plate section of classic movie poster and imagery from the Bogart film of this title. Dashiel Hammett had been a Pinkerton from 1915-21 and he heavily drew from this wealth op knowledge. The Maltese Falcon first appeared in serial form in 1930 in the famed Black Mask periodical. With the astonishing burst of creativity culminating in The Maltes Falcon, Hammett secured his place among mystery's immortals. Crime critic and connoisseur Alexander Woollcott pronounced it "the best detective story America has yet produced." Chapter headings: Spade & Archer; Death in the Fog; Three Women; The Black Bird; The Levantine; The Undersized Shadow; G in the Air; Horse Feathers; Brigid; The Belvedere Divan; The Fat Man; Merry-Go-Round; The Emperor's Gift; La Paloma; Every Crackpot; The Third Murder; Saturday Night; The Fall-Guy; The Russian's Hand; and, If They Hang You". Printed by R. R. Donnelley & Sons, Co. Chicago, Illinois. 188 pages. Insured post.. First Edition. Hard Cover. Fine. 8vo - over 7¾ - 9¾" Tall.