Books

London: Jonathan Cape, 1955. First Edition. Very Good+/Very Good. First British edition, first printing. Second state text with "shoot" on page 10. 256 pp. Bound in publisher's black cloth lettered in silver. Very Good+ with lean to binding, foxing to textblock edges. Offsetting to endsheets and former owner name on front free endpaper. Light toning to contents with creased rear endpaper. In a Very Good unclipped dust jacket with fading to spine panel, moderate foxing and toning to panels with closed tear to front flap. Dampstaining, toning and foxing to verso. A nice copy of the British author's third novel, which inspired a 1979 film starring Roger Moore as James Bond.

In 'Moonraker', Ian Fleming's third James Bond novel, the British secret agent uncovers a plot by the enigmatic Sir Hugo Drax, who is building a powerful rocket capable of destroying London. As Bond delves deeper, the danger and betrayal he encounters bring him to the brink of death in this classic espionage thriller.

One way to determine if a copy of 'Moonraker' is a first edition is to check the publisher on the book's dust jacket and the price. First editions were published by Jonathan Cape with no other printings listed and priced at 10s 6d. The boards are black with silver lettering, and it should have a pictorial dust jacket featuring a crossbow designed by Kenneth Lewis.