Description
For sale: a Rare and Exceptional first edition, early printing hardcover copy of Casino Royale by Ian Fleming in a new archival wrap. First Edition unstated, 1953 Jonathan Cape. Sixth Printing with “Reprinted 1960” stated after five previous impressions and reprints.
The book is in Near Fine condition with clean bright boards with a strong sheen, strong title ink on a sunned spine, light foxing on the top of otherwise clean page blocks, tight binding, mild spine tilt, mild edge wear, and two bumped corners. The worst flaw is the bottom spine end which is rubbed bare, while the top remains strong. The interior of the book is in Near Fine condition with no marks, inscriptions, or other signs of ownership inside. The end papers have moderate to heavy toning and the interior pages are clean and bright, making it an excellent addition to any collection.
Includes the printers error on page 34 (“neard” for “heard”).
The dust jacket is in Near Fine condition with bright colors, mild surface wear and heavy edge wear, and 1/2″ x 2″ gap on the bottom spine end and part of the front. This is the second variation of the Pat Marriott design with a 15 shilling price intact on the front flap, two newer titles on the rear flap and five James Bond titles on the rear cover. Looks great in a new Brodart archival wrap.
When Ian Fleming’s Casino Royale was first published by Jonathan Cape on April 13, 1953, it was a sensation. In England the first printing of 4,750 copies sold out in the first month of publication. Fleming himself designed the dust jacket art, which contained nine bleeding hearts on a gunmetal gray background with “a whisper of love, a whisper of hate” inscribed around the center heart. This first edition of Casino Royale is one of the most sought-after James Bond books. Heck, it’s one of the most sought after first edition books, period!
In order to meet demand, Cape quickly published a second edition of Casino Royale in May 1953. This second edition is identical to the first except for the indicator “Second Edition” on the copyright page and the inclusion of “The Author” under Fleming’s picture on the back of the dust jacket.
Pat Marriott designed an all new dust jacket (featuring a playing card against a green background) for Cape’s fourth printing in November 1957. The book also picked up a printers error on page 34 (“neard” for “heard”). The Marriott art (along with the printing error) became standard on all subsequent hardcover editions, ending with the 13th edition in the 1980s.
Ships promptly in a corrugated mailer with book wrapped in both craft paper and multiple layers of bubble wrap.
