# Is "Double Indemnity" by James M. Cain a First Edition?

> **Quick answer.** A first edition of Double Indemnity by James M. Cain (Alfred A. Knopf, 1936 (serial) / 1943 (book)) is identified by: First appeared serially in Liberty magazine (1936). There is no standalone hardcover first; the first in book form is the 1943 Knopf 'Three of a Kind' omnibus.

**Checklist — a true first has these:**
- First appeared serially in Liberty magazine
- The first true book appearance is within the Knopf collection 'Three of a Kind'
- , alongside 'The Embezzler' and 'Career in C Major,' with 'FIRST EDITION' stated
- The standalone Avon Murder Mystery Monthly No
- 17 paperback
- is a separate early appearance
- Publisher imprint reads Alfred A. Knopf

| | |
|---|---|
| Author | James M. Cain |
| Publisher | Alfred A. Knopf |
| Year | 1936 (serial) / 1943 (book) |
| True first | — |
| Format | Hardcover (trade) |
| Key point | First appeared serially in Liberty magazine |
| Book-club edition exists? | No |

## Points of issue
First appeared serially in Liberty magazine (1936). The first true book appearance is within the Knopf collection 'Three of a Kind' (1943), alongside 'The Embezzler' and 'Career in C Major,' with 'FIRST EDITION' stated. The standalone Avon Murder Mystery Monthly No. 17 paperback (1943) is a separate early appearance.

## Is this the true first?
There is no standalone hardcover first; the first in book form is the 1943 Knopf 'Three of a Kind' omnibus. Note this when someone asks for a 'first edition of Double Indemnity.'

## Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
No book-club issue; the usual confusion is 'Three of a Kind' versus the Avon paperback rather than a club edition.

## Source
New Mexico Literacy Project — Is *Double Indemnity* by James M. Cain a first edition? https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/first-edition/double-indemnity
CC BY 4.0. Part of the Canonical First-Edition Points of Issue dataset (https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/api/first-edition-titles.json). Last reviewed 2026-07-04.