Le Revolver de Maigret
One of the first 100 copies on pur fil paper (no. 23).
The novel was written directly on the typewriter; the typescript was not preceded by an autograph manuscript.
It first appeared in pre-original serialization in Le Figaro from September 1 to October 2, 1952 (in 28 installments).
Chief Inspector Maigret first appeared in four popular novels that the author published under the pseudonyms Georges Sim or Christian Brulls. These novels are not included in the official “Maigret” cycle because Simenon established — notably in 1975, a period when he vigorously suppressed any work predating 1931 — a distinction between his illegitimate output (works published under pseudonyms) and his recognized body of work (published under his own name).
The “official cycle” comprises 75 novels, 4 collections of short stories and 28 short stories (published in magazines); 50 of these novels were published by Presses de la Cité, whose cover designs went through four different formats. Beginning with Maigret voyage (published in December 1957), photographic covers were replaced by drawn covers featuring the pipe and hat.