The points of issue
True first is the 1953 Dodd, Mead HARDCOVER (not a paperback original). Listed here only to flag that despite its noir/pulp reputation it had a hardcover first; the Pocket Books paperback is a later reprint, not the first.
Is this the true first?
Caution title: the hardcover precedes the paperback. The paperback is a reprint 'first thus,' not the true first.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
The Dodd, Mead first has 'First Edition' or absence of later printing statements; later printings and the paperback are clearly secondary.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of The Big Heat a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: True first is the 1953 Dodd, Mead HARDCOVER (not a paperback original). Listed here only to flag that despite its noir/pulp reputation it had a hardcover first; the Pocket Books paperback is a later reprint, not the first.
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. Caution title: the hardcover precedes the paperback. The paperback is a reprint 'first thus,' not the true first.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
The Dodd, Mead first has 'First Edition' or absence of later printing statements; later printings and the paperback are clearly secondary.
I have a first edition of The Big Heat — 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.