# Is "The Lady in the Lake" by Raymond Chandler a First Edition?

> **Quick answer.** A first edition of The Lady in the Lake by Raymond Chandler (Alfred A. Knopf, 1943) is identified by: Knopf (New York), 1943; 'FIRST EDITION' stated on the copyright page per Borzoi practice (Bruccoli A4.1.a). US Knopf (1943) is the true first; the UK Hamish Hamilton edition followed in 1944.

**Checklist — a true first has these:**
- Alfred A. Knopf (New York), 1943; 'FIRST EDITION' stated on the copyright page per Borzoi practice (Bruccoli A4.1.a)
- Bound in green cloth, the front and spine panels stamped in black with a running Borzoi device stamped in black on the rear panel; fore and bottom edges rough-trimmed on wartime-economy stock
- The first-issue dust jacket, illustrated by Norman Reeves in purple and black, carries the publisher's printed price on the front flap
- Fourth Philip Marlowe novel
- Publisher imprint reads Alfred A. Knopf
- Not a book-club edition (see below)

| | |
|---|---|
| Author | Raymond Chandler |
| Publisher | Alfred A. Knopf |
| Year | 1943 |
| True first | US edition |
| Format | Hardcover (trade) |
| Key point | Alfred A. Knopf (New York), 1943; 'FIRST EDITION' stated on the copyright page per Borzoi practice (Bruccoli A4.1.a) |
| Book-club edition exists? | Yes |

## Points of issue
Alfred A. Knopf (New York), 1943; 'FIRST EDITION' stated on the copyright page per Borzoi practice (Bruccoli A4.1.a). Bound in green cloth, the front and spine panels stamped in black with a running Borzoi device stamped in black on the rear panel; fore and bottom edges rough-trimmed on wartime-economy stock. The first-issue dust jacket, illustrated by Norman Reeves in purple and black, carries the publisher's printed price on the front flap. Fourth Philip Marlowe novel.

## 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', are typically on different (often smoother) stock, and their jackets bear no printed price; later Knopf printings add printing notices on the copyright page.

## Source
New Mexico Literacy Project — Is *The Lady in the Lake* by Raymond Chandler a first edition? https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/first-edition/the-lady-in-the-lake
CC BY 4.0. Part of the Canonical First-Edition Points of Issue dataset (https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/api/first-edition-titles.json). Last reviewed 2026-07-04.