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First US edition, first printing, presentation copy, inscribed by the author to his American publisher, Al Hart, on the front free endpaper: "To Al, By, with, & from Ian". Fleming and Hart first met in 1953: Fleming had just published Casino Royale, and Hart was working for Macmillan, who had bought the American rights to the novel and any subsequent instalments in the series. Hart became Fleming's editor for his first seven books he published in the US, as well as "his crony, confidant, and drinking companion on all his subsequent visits to New York" (Pearson, p. 231). Hart made several changes to the series when it was published in the US. For the first paperback edition of Casino Royale, Hart changed the title to the pulp-sounding You Asked for It, writing to Fleming to explain: "the Great Unwashed won't know how to pronounce 'Royale'... If You Asked for It turns your stomach bright green, it might be a good idea to suggest an alternative title or titles" (quoted in Pearson, p. 249). For the US edition of Live and Let Die, Hart deleted several passages he thought racially insensitive; Fleming approved the changes and adopted the amended version for new editions. Fleming began work on the present novel in 1954. Following the advice of his friend Raymond Chandler, he hoped to move away from the "straight pillow fantasies of the kiss-kiss, bang-bang variety" and "put more feeling into my typewriter" (letter to Chandler, quoted in Pearson, p. 286). The First US edition, first printing, presentation copy, inscribed by the author to his American publisher, Al Hart, on the front free endpaper: "To Al, By, with, & from Ian". Fleming and Hart first met in 1953: Fleming had just published Casino Royale, and Hart was working for Macmillan, who had bought the American rights to the novel and any subsequent instalments in the series. Hart became Fleming's editor for his first seven books he published in the US, as well as "his crony, confidant, and drinking companion on all his subsequent visits to New York" (Pearson, p. 231). Hart made several changes to the series when it was published in the US. For the first paperback edition of Casino Royale, Hart changed the title to the pulp-sounding You Asked for It, writing to Fleming to explain: "the Great Unwashed won't know how to pronounce 'Royale'... If You Asked for It turns your stomach bright green, it might be a good idea to suggest an alternative title or titles" (quoted in Pearson, p. 249). For the US edition of Live and Let Die, Hart deleted several passages he thought racially insensitive; Fleming approved the changes and adopted the amended version for new editions. Fleming began work on the present novel in 1954. Following the advice of his friend Raymond Chandler, he hoped to move away from the "straight pillow fantasies of the kiss-kiss, bang-bang variety" and "put more feeling into my typewriter" (letter to Chandler, quoted in Pearson, p. 286). The result was a suspenseful thriller, partly based on his own experiences in Russia and Turkey, which would be Fleming's favourite of his own works. Hart was delighted when he read the manuscript: "The new one is far and away your best, from the very first page right through to that altogether admirable cliff-hanger of an ending... Seriously, I mean it: From Russia, with Love is a real wowser, a lulu, a dilly and a smasheroo. It is also a clever and above all sustained piece of legitimate craftsmanship. My chapeau is not only off to you, it is over the windmill" (quoted in Lycett, p. 301). Following Hart's suggestion, From Russia, with Love was the first book in the Bond series where the UK and US editions shared the same jacket design, by Richard Chopping. Jonathan Cape subsequently sent Macmillan Chopping's proof artworks to use on the jackets of Goldfinger, For Your Eyes Only, and The Spy Who Loved Me, as well as his design for Thunderball, which they used on the jacket for the omnibus edition Gilt-Edged Bonds. READ MORE Octavo. Original cream cloth, spine and front cover lettered in black. With dust jacket. Spine ends bumped, top edge foxed, pp. 90-1 browned from inserted clipping, contents clean; unclipped jacket slightly rubbed, a little worn at extremities, spine slightly chipped with some discreet reinforcement to verso: a very good copy in very good jacket. Gilbert A5b(1). Andrew Lycett, Ian Fleming: The Man Who Created James Bond, 1995; John Pearson, The Life of Ian Fleming, 1966.

"From Russia, with Love" by Ian Fleming is a spy thriller featuring James Bond, the iconic British Secret Service agent. In this novel, Bond is assigned a perilous mission by MI6 to acquire a Soviet encoding machine, the Spektor, and to discern the true intentions behind the offering of this seemingly valuable device. The story begins with a depiction of the intricate planning by the clandestine Soviet agency SMERSH, which devises an elaborate plot to discredit and assassinate James Bond. Their strategy involves using a beautiful Russian cipher clerk, Tatiana Romanova, to lure Bond into a web of deceit. Bond is dispatched to Istanbul, where he is tasked with making contact with Tatiana and retrieving the Spektor. As Bond arrives in Istanbul, he becomes embroiled in a dangerous game of espionage and deceit. Tatiana, seemingly defecting from the Soviets, offers to provide the Spektor to the British, seeking asylum in return. However, Bond soon realizes that this apparent defection is part of a meticulously crafted scheme. His mission turns perilous as he discovers that Tatiana's involvement is orchestrated by SMERSH, aiming to eliminate Bond as part of their intricate plan to damage British intelligence. The novel follows Bond's encounters with various adversaries, including Red Grant, a skilled and ruthless assassin tasked with eliminating him. Bond faces life-threatening situations and engages in daring maneuvers to outwit his enemies, relying on his resourcefulness and skills to survive. Fleming's narrative is filled with suspenseful twists and turns, intricate plotting, and Bond's characteristic blend of charm, intelligence, and bravery. The story builds to an intense climax aboard the Orient Express, where Bond confronts Grant in a thrilling and deadly showdown. "From Russia, with Love" is a classic espionage novel that showcases the danger, intrigue, and high-stakes world of Cold War espionage. It remains a beloved entry in the James Bond series, celebrated for its gripping storyline, intricate plotting, and the depiction of Bond's cunning and resilience in the face of formidable adversaries.