The points of issue
Knopf first edition; copyright page consistent with the unmarked/first-state Knopf practice of the period with no later printing indicated. Hammett's last novel. First-state dust jacket priced the printed price.
Is this the true first?
US Knopf 1934 is the true first, preceding the UK Arthur Barker edition. US first preferred.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Grosset & Dunlap and film-tie-in reprints (for the 1934 Powell/Loy film) are obvious by imprint and jacket art; no club edition precedes the Knopf first.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of The Thin Man a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: Knopf first edition; copyright page consistent with the unmarked/first-state Knopf practice of the period with no later printing indicated. Hammett's last novel. First-state dust jacket priced the printed price.
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 1934 is the true first, preceding the UK Arthur Barker edition. US first preferred.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Grosset & Dunlap and film-tie-in reprints (for the 1934 Powell/Loy film) are obvious by imprint and jacket art; no club edition precedes the Knopf first.
I have a first edition of The Thin Man — 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.