Books

London: Viking / Penguin, 2002. [James Bond] LIMITED HARDBACK SET. All first printings. Complete in 14 volumes. Small octavo (41 x 18cm). Cloth-bound hardcovers in photographic dust-wrappers by Toby MacFarlan Pond. No inscriptions, contents clean, some gentle toning to text blocks, jackets not worn. A fine set. This was the first James Bond hardback edition published by Penguin Books, who held the publishing rights to the series for a decade. This edition was released simultaneously as a mass-market paperback, but these hardcovers were produced in very limited numbers (1000 copies only). Complete sets are particularly uncommon. From the comprehensive archive assembled by Jon Gilbert (pencil signature within). His encyclopaedic guide to the works of Ian Fleming (2012) won the 16th Breslauer Prize for bibliography.

"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.