The points of issue
Knopf first, 1943; 'FIRST EDITION' stated on the copyright page (Borzoi practice). Printed on wartime-economy paper; first-issue jacket bears the printed price on the front flap.
Is this the true first?
US Knopf (1943) is the true first; the UK Hamish Hamilton edition followed in 1944. Fourth Philip Marlowe novel.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Book-club reprints lack the stated 'FIRST EDITION'; later printings carry additional printing notices and may be price-clipped or on different stock.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of The Lady in the Lake a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: Knopf first, 1943; 'FIRST EDITION' stated on the copyright page (Borzoi practice). Printed on wartime-economy paper; first-issue jacket bears the printed price on the front flap.
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 (1943) is the true first; the UK Hamish Hamilton edition followed in 1944. Fourth Philip Marlowe novel.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Book-club reprints lack the stated 'FIRST EDITION'; later printings carry additional printing notices and may be price-clipped or on different stock.
I have a first edition of The Lady in the Lake — 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.