Books

London: Jonathan Cape, 1973. [Spy novels] PROOF COPY of the first James Bond omnibus to be published in the UK. Bibliographer's copy. Octavo (19 x 13cm), pp.748. Title page is a cancel, as issued. Publisher's red printed card covers, with printed label to upper providing publication details and blurb. Compliment's slip from Cape chairman Tom Maschler tucked in. Minor spine lean, very slightly rubbed and sunned to same. Jon Gilbert's file copy, with his pencilled notes and ownership signature. A near fine example of an excessively rare advance copy in softcovers; only 90 copies were issued, a much lower number than any of the 1960s originals in proof. "The publisher's production ledger reveals A James Bond Onmibus had a particularly low print run of proof copies" (Ian Fleming The Bibliography, p.554). Gilbert E4 (1) 'Uncorrected Proof Copies'.

Doctor No is the sixth novel in Ian Fleming's James Bond series, originally published in 1958. It follows the British MI6 agent on a mission to Jamaica where he encounters the eponymous villain, Dr. Julius No, who is plotting to sabotage an American space launch with the help of his criminal organization.