The points of issue
First printing has 'FIRST EDITION' with the Borzoi device and 'Published February, 1939'; first-issue dust jacket priced the printed price with the correct design and no later review blurbs.
Is this the true first?
US Knopf 1939 is the true first; UK (Hamish Hamilton, 1939) follows. Chandler-signed firsts are scarce.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Book-club copies are blind-stamped, lack the 'Published February 1939' line, and have unpriced jackets.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of The Big Sleep a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: First printing has 'FIRST EDITION' with the Borzoi device and 'Published February, 1939'; first-issue dust jacket priced the printed price with the correct design and no later review blurbs.
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 1939 is the true first; UK (Hamish Hamilton, 1939) follows. Chandler-signed firsts are scarce.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Book-club copies are blind-stamped, lack the 'Published February 1939' line, and have unpriced jackets.
I have a first edition of The Big Sleep — 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.