Books

First UK Edition, First Impression. SIGNED COPY. Octavo (20 x 14cm), pp.[1] 319 [2]. Publisher's black cloth with blue rubber-stamp motif and blind 'downgraded to unclassified' box blocked to upper board, gilt titles to spine. With the photographic dustwrapper designed by Raymond Hawkey priced at 18s., and with the VERY SCARCE wraparound advertising sash with the image of Michael Caine and Len Deighton to the front portion and with Len Deighton and Ian Fleming to the rear portion . Top edge a little dusty/spotted else fine, in a near fine dustwrapper. SIGNED BY LEN DEIGHTON - WITHOUT DEDICATION - to the title page. Basis for the classic 1965 film starring Michael Caine as 'Harry Palmer', directed by Sidney J Furie and produced by Harry Saltzman who made the early Bond movies; mention of the film 'From Russia, With Love' appears on the dustwrapper flap, as does a quote from Queen magazine, claiming Deighton's hero was "James Bond's most serious rival". One of a small number of promotional copies with a wraparound band featuring a photograph of 007 creator Ian Fleming and Len Deighton in conversation; Ian Fleming was a fan and had chosen Deighton's 1962 novel The Ipcress File as his 'thriller of the year'. Signed copies with these attributes are decidedly uncommon. Provenance: Purchased from the collection of Jon Gilbert - Ian Fleming Bibliographer - and notable Len Deighton specialist.

A brilliant and captivating spy novel by Len Deighton, continuing the adventures of his unnamed protagonist involved in a complex plot of espionage and intrigue during the Cold War.