Books

The Macmillan Company, New York, 1954. Book. Very Good. Hardcover. 1st Edition. First American Edition (first printing). 8vo. 176pp. Green cloth lettered in red at the spine and upper board with several red-stamped quadrilateral decorations. A tiny trace of spotting to the top edge, and just a hint of wear to the spine ends and corner tips. Several miniscule areas of toning and spotting to the free endpapers and pastedowns. A very good copy in good Leo Manso-designed dust wrapper, non-price-clipped ($2.75) but with two inches of loss from the base of the spine panel, and a touch of toning, soiling, nicking and wear, and with several small areas of taped internal repair and just a trace of fading to the publishers red spine panel colouring. The first James Bond novel. This American edition, initially rejected by three US publishers, was issued eleven months after the original UK edition, but sales were surprisingly poor, c.4000 copies sold throughout 1954 (in the UK more than that were…

"Casino Royale," penned by Ian Fleming and published in 1953, introduces readers to James Bond, the iconic British spy known for his charm, wit, and penchant for danger. The story unfolds as Bond is assigned a mission to bankrupt Le Chiffre, a Soviet agent and treasurer for a criminal syndicate, at a high-stakes baccarat game in the Casino Royale in France. Bond navigates a treacherous world of espionage, encountering deceit, betrayal, and violence while trying to outwit Le Chiffre. Along the way, he crosses paths with Vesper Lynd, a complex and enigmatic woman whose involvement complicates his mission. As Bond confronts perilous situations and faces adversaries, he must rely on his cunning and resourcefulness to emerge victorious in this thrilling tale of espionage and intrigue.

Look for the Jonathan Cape publishing information on the title or copyright page. The original first edition had a black cloth cover with a red heart, club, spade, and diamond design. Check for the publication year of 1953. The first printing jacket was issued in two states: the first state does not have the times review, the second state has the times review to the inner front flap.