James Bond on Bond Street

James Bond on Bond Street

View full screen - View 1 of Lot 14. Ian Fleming | Casino Royale, 1952, uncorrected proof copy.

The Jon Gilbert Collection

Ian Fleming | Casino Royale, 1952, uncorrected proof copy

Lot Closed

September 22, 01:14 PM GMT

Estimate

30,000 - 50,000 GBP

Lot Details

Description

Ian Fleming

Casino Royale. London: Jonathan Cape, 1952


8vo, UNCORRECTED PROOF COPY, black morocco by Sangorski & Sutcliffe, spine with raised bands in six compartments, lettered and ruled in gilt, upper cover with red morocco heart-shaped onlay, gilt edges, patterned endpapers, front wrapper and spine bound in, collector's black cloth clamshell box (also with heart-shaped onlay)


THE EXCEEDINGLY RARE UNCORRECTED PROOF OF THE FIRST JAMES BOND BOOK; A TREASURE FOR ANY BOND COLLECTOR.


Featuring the earliest printed form of the text, which varies from the published book. Print run unconfirmed, although "a tiny number appear to have survived ... likely fewer than twenty-five copies [and] no copy sold at auction" (Gilbert). Along with the Pickard copy, the present example in morocco is mentioned specifically by Gilbert, these being the only two copies seen by the bibliographer.

GIlbert A1a, pp. 18-19