Skip to content

The Maltese Falcon
Stock Photo: Cover May Be Different

The Maltese Falcon Paperback - 2002

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.

-

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 Paperback
  • Edition Edition Unstated
  • Pages 224
  • Volumes 1
  • Language ENG
  • Publisher Orion Publishing Group, London
  • Date March 21, 2002
  • ISBN 9780752847641 / 0752847643
  • Dewey Decimal Code FIC
Back to Top

More Copies for Sale

The Maltese Falcon (CRIME MASTERWORKS)

The Maltese Falcon (CRIME MASTERWORKS)

by Hammett, Dashiell

  • Used
  • very good
  • Paperback
Condition
Used - Very Good
Binding
Paperback
ISBN 13
9780752847641
ISBN 10
0752847643
Quantity Available
1
Seller
GORING BY SEA, West Sussex, United Kingdom
Seller rating:
This seller has earned a 2 of 5 Stars rating from Biblio customers.
Item Price
£1.00
£8.57 shipping to USA

Show Details

Description:
Paperback. Very Good.
Item Price
£1.00
£8.57 shipping to USA
The Maltese Falcon (CRIME MASTERWORKS)

The Maltese Falcon (CRIME MASTERWORKS)

by Hammett, Dashiell

  • Used
  • good
  • Paperback
Condition
Used - Good
Binding
Paperback
ISBN 13
9780752847641
ISBN 10
0752847643
Quantity Available
5
Seller
GORING BY SEA, West Sussex, United Kingdom
Seller rating:
This seller has earned a 2 of 5 Stars rating from Biblio customers.
Item Price
£1.00
£8.57 shipping to USA

Show Details

Description:
Paperback. Good.
Item Price
£1.00
£8.57 shipping to USA
The Maltese Falcon (Crime Masterworks)
Stock Photo: Cover May Be Different

The Maltese Falcon (Crime Masterworks)

by Dashiell Hammett

  • Used
  • Paperback
Condition
Used; Good
Binding
Paperback
ISBN 13
9780752847641
ISBN 10
0752847643
Quantity Available
2
Seller
London, Greater London, United Kingdom
Seller rating:
This seller has earned a 5 of 5 Stars rating from Biblio customers.
Item Price
£3.49
£10.99 shipping to USA

Show Details

Description:
Orion, 03/21/2002. Paperback. Used; Good. **WE SHIP WITHIN 24 HRS FROM LONDON, UK, 98% OF OUR ORDERS ARE RECEIVED WITHIN 7-10 DAYS. We believe you will be completely satisfied with our quick and reliable service. All orders are dispatched as swiftly as possible! Buy with confidence! Greener Books.
Item Price
£3.49
£10.99 shipping to USA
The Maltese Falcon
Stock Photo: Cover May Be Different

The Maltese Falcon

by Dashiell Hammett

  • Used
  • good
  • Paperback
Condition
Used - Good
Binding
Paperback
ISBN 13
9780752847641
ISBN 10
0752847643
Quantity Available
1
Seller
Morangis, France
Seller rating:
This seller has earned a 5 of 5 Stars rating from Biblio customers.
Item Price
£4.02
£9.64 shipping to USA

Show Details

Description:
Orion (an Imprint of The Orion Publishing Group Ltd ), 2002. Paperback. Good. Slight signs of wear on the cover. Ammareal gives back up to 15% of this book's net price to charity organizations.
Item Price
£4.02
£9.64 shipping to USA
The Maltese Falcon
Stock Photo: Cover May Be Different

The Maltese Falcon

by Dashiell Hammett

  • Used
  • good
  • Paperback
Condition
Used - Good
Binding
Paperback
ISBN 13
9780752847641
ISBN 10
0752847643
Quantity Available
1
Seller
Morangis, France
Seller rating:
This seller has earned a 5 of 5 Stars rating from Biblio customers.
Item Price
£4.02
£9.64 shipping to USA

Show Details

Description:
Orion (an Imprint of The Orion Publishing Group Ltd ), 2002. Paperback. Good. Traces of creases on the cover. Ammareal gives back up to 15% of this book's net price to charity organizations.
Item Price
£4.02
£9.64 shipping to USA
The Maltese Falcon
Stock Photo: Cover May Be Different

The Maltese Falcon

by Hammett, Dashiell

  • Used
Condition
Used - Good
ISBN 13
9780752847641
ISBN 10
0752847643
Quantity Available
1
Seller
Dunfermline, Fife, United Kingdom
Seller rating:
This seller has earned a 5 of 5 Stars rating from Biblio customers.
Item Price
£4.82
£8.03 shipping to USA

Show Details

Description:
Orion Publishing Group, Limited. Used - Good. Ships from the UK. Used book that is in clean, average condition without any missing pages.
Item Price
£4.82
£8.03 shipping to USA
The Maltese Falcon
Stock Photo: Cover May Be Different

The Maltese Falcon

by Hammett, Dashiell

  • Used
Condition
Used - Good
ISBN 13
9780752847641
ISBN 10
0752847643
Quantity Available
2
Seller
Dunfermline, Fife, United Kingdom
Seller rating:
This seller has earned a 5 of 5 Stars rating from Biblio customers.
Item Price
£4.83
£8.03 shipping to USA

Show Details

Description:
Orion Publishing Group, Limited. Used - Good. Ships from the UK. Former library book; may include library markings. Used book that is in clean, average condition without any missing pages.
Item Price
£4.83
£8.03 shipping to USA
The Maltese Falcon
Stock Photo: Cover May Be Different

The Maltese Falcon

by Hammett, Dashiell

  • Used
Condition
Used - Very Good
ISBN 13
9780752847641
ISBN 10
0752847643
Quantity Available
2
Seller
Dunfermline, Fife, United Kingdom
Seller rating:
This seller has earned a 5 of 5 Stars rating from Biblio customers.
Item Price
£4.83
£8.03 shipping to USA

Show Details

Description:
Orion Publishing Group, Limited. Used - Very Good. Ships from the UK. Former library book; may include library markings. Used book that is in excellent condition. May show signs of wear or have minor defects.
Item Price
£4.83
£8.03 shipping to USA
The Maltese Falcon (Crime Masterworks)

The Maltese Falcon (Crime Masterworks)

by Hammett, Dashiell

  • Used
  • good
  • Paperback
Condition
Used - Good
Binding
Paperback
ISBN 13
9780752847641
ISBN 10
0752847643
Quantity Available
1
Seller
Seattle, Washington, United States
Seller rating:
This seller has earned a 4 of 5 Stars rating from Biblio customers.
Item Price
£5.05
FREE shipping to USA

Show Details

Description:
Orion, 2002. Paperback. Good. Pages can have notes/highlighting. Spine may show signs of wear. ~ ThriftBooks: Read More, Spend Less.Dust jacket quality is not guaranteed.
Item Price
£5.05
FREE shipping to USA
The Maltese Falcon
Stock Photo: Cover May Be Different

The Maltese Falcon

by Hammett, Dashiell

  • Used
Condition
Used - Very Good
ISBN 13
9780752847641
ISBN 10
0752847643
Quantity Available
1
Seller
Mishawaka, Indiana, United States
Seller rating:
This seller has earned a 5 of 5 Stars rating from Biblio customers.
Item Price
£6.88
FREE shipping to USA

Show Details

Description:
Orion Publishing Group, Limited. Used - Very Good. Used book that is in excellent condition. May show signs of wear or have minor defects.
Item Price
£6.88
FREE shipping to USA