The points of issue
Knopf first, 1942; copyright page reads 'FIRST EDITION.' Bound in tan cloth; first-issue jacket carries the printed price on the front flap. Third Marlowe novel.
Is this the true first?
US Knopf (1942) is the true first; UK Hamish Hamilton (1943) followed.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Reprints and book-club copies lack the 'FIRST EDITION' statement and the original jacket price.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of The High Window a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: Knopf first, 1942; copyright page reads 'FIRST EDITION.' Bound in tan cloth; first-issue jacket carries the printed price on the front flap. Third Marlowe novel.
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 (1942) is the true first; UK Hamish Hamilton (1943) followed.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Reprints and book-club copies lack the 'FIRST EDITION' statement and the original jacket price.
I have a first edition of The High Window — 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.