Books

London: Jonathan Cape, 1965. First Edition. Hardcover. Near Fine/Near Fine. 8vo. Pp. 221. Black boards with gilt title to spine, green endpapers, in pictorial dust jacket, not price clipped. Very near fine copy in black leather and cloth, gilt-stamped clamshell. A stunning copy of the first issue, second state, Binding A, without the gilt-stamped gun motif. Signed by Roger Moore with added 'Best Wishes' and '007' motif. Moore played James Bond in the 1974 film adaptation. One of just 23,203 copies in this binding from a print run of 81,890 copies.

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.

A first edition of 'The Man with the Golden Gun' can often be identified by the gold gun embossed on the front cover of the hardback, the lack of a 'New York Times' review on the front flap, and with the original dust jacket designed by Richard Chopping. Prices for first editions can vary widely based on condition and presence of these elements.