More ways to confirm a first printing
- Generally REPRINTS or abridgments, not firsts; the series number and digest format are the identifiers. Copyright page notes the original publisher.
- First-printing-of-the-digest can be inferred from the series number and absence of a reprint note, but the magazine/original hardcover is usually the true first.
Notable points & cautions
- Edited/published in the orbit of Lawrence Spivak and Frederic Dannay (Ellery Queen); important historically for keeping detective fiction in print cheaply.
- Confused with Fawcett/Dell only superficially — Mercury is digest-sized and reprint-oriented.
- Occasionally the digest is the first BOOK appearance of a story that ran only in a magazine; in those cases note 'first book appearance,' not 'first edition.'
Imprints
First editions also appear under: Mercury Mystery, Bestseller Mystery, Jonathan Press Mystery, Ellery Queen / The American Mercury digest line. Each generally follows the house convention above.
Frequently asked questions
How do I know if my Mercury Publications / Mercury Mysteries (Lawrence Spivak) book is a first edition?
Check the copyright page. Digest-sized paperback reprint/abridgment line (1937-1950s) tied to The American Mercury / Ellery Queen's Mystery Magazine; identify by series number (Mercury Mystery #/Bestseller Mystery #/Jonathan Press #). Generally REPRINTS or abridgments, not firsts; the series number and digest format are the identifiers. Copyright page notes the original publisher.
Does Mercury Publications / Mercury Mysteries (Lawrence Spivak) use a number line?
Generally REPRINTS or abridgments, not firsts; the series number and digest format are the identifiers. Copyright page notes the original publisher.
Is a book-club edition a Mercury Publications / Mercury Mysteries (Lawrence Spivak) first edition?
No. Book-club editions reprint the text but are not the true first edition. Edited/published in the orbit of Lawrence Spivak and Frederic Dannay (Ellery Queen); important historically for keeping detective fiction in print cheaply.
What era does this cover?
This covers Mercury Publications / Mercury Mysteries (Lawrence Spivak) (1937-1950s). Conventions changed over time, so confirm the era of your copy.
Clearing out a shelf that includes Mercury Publications / Mercury Mysteries (Lawrence Spivak) books? I take books as a free donation and make sure collectible copies are identified, not discarded: free pickup in the Albuquerque metro (scheduled by route), the 24/7 drop box at 5445 Edith Blvd NE, or donor-paid mail-in from anywhere in the US. Call or text 505-250-3804.