The points of issue
First edition in publisher's blue cloth, titling and decoration stamped in gilt on spine and front board, 'Inner Sanctum' device gilt-stamped on the front board; navy-blue top-stain. Pagination viii, 312. The first-issue dust jacket is the scarce element. A Haycraft-Queen Cornerstone title.
Is this the true first?
US Simon & Schuster is the first edition; Woolrich's first full-length suspense novel and the first of his 'Black' series. Basis for Truffaut's 1968 film.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Later reprints (Books Inc., Mercury/Jonathan, and paperback reissues) lack the blue cloth and gilt Inner Sanctum device, omit the navy top-stain, and carry reprint pricing or imprints.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of The Bride Wore Black a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: First edition in publisher's blue cloth, titling and decoration stamped in gilt on spine and front board, 'Inner Sanctum' device gilt-stamped on the front board; navy-blue top-stain. Pagination viii, 312. The first-issue dust jacket is the scarce element. A Haycraft-Queen Cornerstone title.
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 Simon & Schuster is the first edition; Woolrich's first full-length suspense novel and the first of his 'Black' series. Basis for Truffaut's 1968 film.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Later reprints (Books Inc., Mercury/Jonathan, and paperback reissues) lack the blue cloth and gilt Inner Sanctum device, omit the navy top-stain, and carry reprint pricing or imprints.
I have a first edition of The Bride Wore Black — 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.