The points of issue
Knopf first, no later-printing statement on copyright page (early Knopf practice). Hammett's first novel. Original cloth with Borzoi device; first-state jacket priced the printed price.
Is this the true first?
US Knopf 1929 is the true first; the UK Knopf (London) follows. Hammett's debut novel — scarce, especially jacketed.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
No early club edition; later reprints bear their own imprints. Absence of any printing notice plus the 1929 Knopf imprint identifies the first.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Red Harvest a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: Knopf first, no later-printing statement on copyright page (early Knopf practice). Hammett's first novel. Original cloth with Borzoi device; first-state jacket priced the printed price.
How do I tell the first printing from a later one?
Check the copyright page for the publisher's first-printing convention and confirm the points above. US Knopf 1929 is the true first; the UK Knopf (London) follows. Hammett's debut novel — scarce, especially jacketed.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
No early club edition; later reprints bear their own imprints. Absence of any printing notice plus the 1929 Knopf imprint identifies the first.
I have a first edition of Red Harvest — what should I do?
If you're clearing books, New Mexico Literacy Project offers free pickup in Albuquerque, any condition, and makes sure collectible copies aren't lost. To sell, see the author's collecting guide. Either way, nothing valuable ends up in a landfill.