Books

London: Jonathan Cape, 1965. London: Jonathan Cape, [1965]. First edition. Small octavo (7 5/16 x 4 15/16 inches; 186 x 125 mm). 221, [3, blank] pp. Full black textured cloth. Lettered in gilt on the spine. Green and white endpapers. In dust jacket with wraparound illustration by Richard Chopping. Some very minor darkening to top edge of jacket. Text block of book with some foxing, mainly to top edge. Binding very slightly skewed. Otherwise, a bright, near fine copy. HBS 65995. $1,000.

The Man with the Golden Gun is the twelfth novel (and thirteenth book) of Ian Fleming's James Bond series. It was first published by Jonathan Cape in the UK on 1 April 1965, eight months after the author's death. The novel was not as detailed or polished as the others in the series, leading to poor but polite reviews. Despite that, the book was a best-seller. The story centers on the fictional British Secret Service agent Commander James Bond, who had been thought dead, only to return to the Secret Service alive and well. In the novel, Bond is sent to assassinate Francisco 'Pistols' Scaramanga, a notorious hitman, who is believed to be responsible for the disappearance of several British intelligence operatives.