THE MALTESE FALCON. 1930

New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 1930 Hammett, Dashiell. THE MALTESE FALCON. New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 1930. Spectacular First Edition, First Printing. 8vo., 268pp. Publisher's original gray cloth with the famous Falcon Motif to upper board in blue with titles & geometric design to spine in black & blue, top edge stained blue. In the original pictorial first issue dustwrapper. A near fine or better copy; minor offsetting to the endpapers only from the simply stunning dustwrapper's flaps. An exceptional example, completely unrestored; the colours sharp & bright, the spine absolutely unfaded, three inconsequential short closed tears, price-clipped, the bottom of the front flap, neatly clipped - the original owner having [mistakenly] removed a thrift shop ink price early on. [Some find]. The most famous Cornerstone of all modern works of Mystery & Detection. Originally brought to the screen in 1931 as: "Dangerous Female", directed by Roy Del Ruth with Ricardo Cortez as Sam Spade - In 1936, re-titled "Satan Met a Lady" with Bette Davis & re-shot in 1940, in the Big Bird Hardboiled Classic which was directed by John Huston & starred Peter Lorre, Mary Astor, Sydney Greenstreet & Humphrey Bogart. A H-Q Haycraft Queen Cornerstone. Custom cut stiff clear Mylar outer protective jacket. Half yellow chevre custom ribbon tied clamshell case - lettering stamped in black at the spine & decorated with the distinctive illustration of the falcon hand rendered. One of the finest copies of this treasure to come along in years.. 1st Edition.