Every year, as Memorial Day weekend rolls around, the holiday barbecues, ball games, and premature beach visits obscure another momentous historical event: the birth of Dashiell Hammett. Born Samuel Dashiell Hammett (Dashiell came from the French surname, De Chiel) in 1894, Hammett seemed to live many lives: soldier, detective, Pinkerton strike buster, story writer, progressive, activist, political prisoner, man about town, recluse, and of course the role we best remember him for: the canonical, legendary author of some of crime fiction’s most beloved, admired, and influential novels. Arguably, Hammett did more than any author to define the style and feeling of a good detective novel. The movies helped, but Hammett’s prose and his PIs’ attitudes left a truly indelible mark.
Take The Maltese Falcon. Just the title conjures up a stylized world of sharp dealers, San Francisco hills, double crossers and double-breasted suits. Many a filmmaker, illustrator, and book designer have taken their shot at capturing that Maltese feeling. Nothing quite compares to the man’s words, but that doesn’t mean we can’t take a few minutes to appreciate the effort.
Come with us, won’t you, on a journey around the world in tattered, well-read copies of The Maltese Falcon. To commemorate Hammett’s birth, we’ve gathered up and (very, very scientifically) ranked the top 42 covers of The Maltese Falcon from around the world. Have we missed some? Surely. Treated others unfairly? Why not. In Hammett-world, quick decisive action is key. No regrets, until you’re alone in your apartment / office with a glass of something smoky and a memory that refuses to die…
(There are no doubt mistakes below, especially on foreign editions. Send word if you spot them. And for more expert takes on rare books and cover art, refer to the work of CrimeReads contributors Rebecca Romney and J. Kingston Pierce.)
42. Spain (2016). When in doubt, hone in on the falcon. Any falcon.
41. USA (2012). Sam Spade in croupier dress.
40. Brazil (1982). Those icy stare-downs. Noir to the bone.
39. France (2012). Honestly, you expect better from the French.
38. Israel (2013). Now we’re talking. Backstage at the club.
37. Spain (2001). Excellent use of the door.
36. Latvia (2000). A personal favorite. Like the cast of Hill Street Blues got swallowed by a crow.
35. Vintage (1972). A striking treatment from a publisher who’ll pop up again further down.
34. Serbia (unknown). Stock photography, but high marks because Serbia needs Sam Spade.
33. Finland (2014). Two falcon are, better than one.
32. France (1999). Come on, you’re Gallimard’s Folio policier. You gotta do a little better.
31. Romania (1970). Imagine reading The Maltese Falcon in Romania in 1970? This cover sure has some stories to tell.
30. USA (2002). The only cover to focus on the bridge. Bold, strong decision.
29. Italy (2017). It kind of singes itself onto your brain, doesn’t it?
28. Iran (2014). Clever shadow work. Sam Spade is the falcon.
27. Sweden (1986). A color palate straight out of the Swedish après-ski scene circa 1986.
26. Lithuania (1994). Now we’re getting pulpy. Is that Pulp Peter Lorre?
25. China (2015). That falcon is unflappable.
24. UK (2015). A little more Archies than pulp crime, but still memorable.
23. Norway (2014). One of the very best representation of Brigid O’Shaughnessy.
22. Italy (unknown). Brigid by way of Sophia Loren.
21. Greece (2017). Striking colors, new take on the falcon. What’s not to like?
20. Greece (2012). Spade celebrates. St. Patrick’s.
19. Finland (1981). Another perfectly 80s vision. Nice windowpane treatment, too.
18. USA (1934) E. McKnight Kauffer’s design for the 1934 Modern Library edition.
17. USA (1975). A Pan paperback edition. A solid crime scene illustration.
16. Croatia (2003). Is it me, or did they make Bogie’s mouth extra sly?
15. Brazil (2017). Look at all that purple. Resplendent. Also, Brazilian Brigid looks fierce.
14. USA (unknown). Some really nice action shots.
13. Spain (2017). The red cape is an awful nice touch. Don’t let ’em see you bleed.
12. Brazil (1950). An imperialist aesthetic seems to be at play here. The brain waves connecting the characters to the falcon is a nice touch, especially since this seems to be part of a “Vampire Collection.”
11. USA (1992). The Vintage paperback that gave many of us our first Maltese Falcon experience, and which taught us the true power of good bone structure.
10. USA (1929-1930). Black Mask magazine serialized The Maltese Falcon over five issues between 1929 and 1930. The illustration is byHenry C. Murphy, Jr. and Sam Spade does not look like he’s in a forgiving mood. Hard to overstate the importance of this first appearance in print.
9. Greece (1980). This one is just a gem. Observing the monster-of-the-week font, fellow editor Molly Odintz speculated that perhaps in Greece, The Maltese Falcon is read as horror fiction about the plundering of Mediterranean treasures by feckless westerners overtaken by avarice.
8. Germany (1972). The falcon that will haunt your dreams every time you have a fever for the rest of your life. If anyone knows where to get a copy of this one, please let me know. A truly devious nod to the Knopf first edition art.
7. USA (1945). Pocket books. Illustration by Stanley Meltzoff. Honing in on the book’s most risque moment. Like the old saying goes: curtains sell.
6. USA (1944). The first Pocket edition, with art by Leo Manso / Stanley Meltzoff. Everyone wants to get their hands on that falcon…
5. Argentina (unknown). A simple graphic treatment, perhaps a little under the Bond spell, but striking and original.
4. USA (1989). Another memorable Vintage edition. All the richness of an oil painting. Judging by the rosy noses and cheeks, everyone is drunk.
3. UK (2013). Absolutely gorgeous edition from the Folio Society, with art by David Eccles and an introduction from none other than Sara Paretsky. A true collector’s item.
2. USA (1961). This Permabooks edition has a stylish and intricate Illustration by the great Harry Bennett.
1. USA (1930). Knopf’s iconic first edition dust jacket, with gothic shades and that vibrant yellow that burns your retinas. Unforgettable.
