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A genuine 1931 Alfred A. Knopf true first edition, first printing of Dashiell Hammett\'s The Glass Key — one of the foundational hard-boiled crime novels, and the basis for the classic 1942 film noir. No dust jacket, and the binding shows honest wear consistent with a 95-year-old book, but both hinges are intact and holding, and the text block is clean, complete, and unmarked throughout.
Why Buy This Copy?
This is a true first edition, first printing, confirmed by the copyright page statement \"First, second and third printings before publication\" — the standard identifying point for this Knopf title. The binding is sound and attached at both the front and rear hinges — not cracked, not repaired. There is honest shelf wear: a torn/frayed opening in the cloth at the head of the spine, scattered handling stains on the back cover, a small corner chip and ink-offset staining at the rear pastedown, and remnants of a removed bookplate or library pocket on the front pastedown. The interior pages are clean throughout, with no writing, highlighting, tears, or missing pages. For collectors who want a genuine, structurally sound first of one of Hammett\'s most acclaimed novels without paying premium VG prices, this is an honest copy at a fair price.
Book Details
- Title: The Glass Key
- Author: Dashiell Hammett
- Publisher: Alfred A. Knopf (Borzoi Books), New York
- Year Published: 1931
- Edition: First American Edition, First Printing
- Format: Hardcover, orange cloth, black key stamped on front board
- Pages: 282
- Binding: Publisher\'s cloth, both hinges intact and attached
- Notable: Basis for the 1942 Paramount film noir starring Alan Ladd and Veronica Lake
Condition
Good to Very Good(-). Text block is clean throughout — no writing, highlighting, underlining, tears, or missing pages (282 pages, verified). No odor beyond light age-related mustiness, no water damage, no personal inscriptions. Binding is sound and attached at both hinges (front and rear); the rear gutter shows the sewing structure lightly visible but holding, not separated. Honestly disclosed flaws: a torn/frayed opening in the cloth at the head of the spine; scattered handling stains on the back cover; a small chip/tear and light ink-offset staining at the rear pastedown corner; remnants of a removed bookplate or library pocket on the front pastedown; and text block edges tanned with faint residue from an old label. No dust jacket present.
Shipping & Packaging
📦 Professional Packing & Shipping — BonnieBooks Standard Packaging Includes:
✔ Wrapped in acid-free tissue paper to protect the book and dust jacket.
✔ Placed inside a clear resealable Ziplock® bag to provide protection from moisture, rain, snow, humidity, and accidental water exposure during transit.
✔ Protected with bubble wrap for cushioning.
✔ Surrounded with additional packing material to prevent movement inside the carton.
✔ Packed in a premium white crush-resistant corrugated book box (200#/ECT-32-E) featuring double-wall protection on the front and sides for superior strength.
✔ All box seams are securely sealed with Scotch® packing tape.
✔ Every package passes the BonnieBooks \"Shake Test\" to verify there is no movement inside the box before shipment.
✔ Shipped with tracking so you can follow your package from shipment to delivery.
