Hammett, Dashiell, The Maltese Falcon, San Francisco, Arion Press, 1983. Limited to 400 copies. This edition is truly the stuff that dreams are made of. Gray boards, black leather spine, and black leather falcon, outlined in silver and with a bright red eye, on front and back covers. Frontispiece portrait tipped in, and illustrated with contemporary photographs of San Francisco. One could argue that it’s the most beautiful book ever produced in the mystery community. An absolutely flawless, as-new copy in slipcase, which has a small bump at one corner. $1,250.00

• Tweet