Books

First edition, first impression, first issue, in the first state binding with the gilt gun design on the front cover. The Bond books were typically stamped with a decorative device on the front covers; in this instance, the practice proved too expensive and was abandoned after the first 940 copies were produced. It is consequently the scarcest first state of the Bond books. Octavo. Original black boards, spine lettered in gilt, gun design stamped on front cover in gilt, green-and-white patterned endpapers. With dust jacket. Gilt bright, small bump to spine ends, occasional faint mark to contents; jacket sharp and unclipped: a near-fine copy in fine jacket. Gilbert A13a (1.1).

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.