Books

London: Jonathan Cape, 1965. First edition. Hardcover. First edition, first issue, second state, binding A with gilt on spine but no gold gun, green endpapers. 221 pp. Bound in publisher's black cloth, gilt spine lettering. Fine in an excellent, unfaded, bright dust jacket, miniscule tear near foot repaired with equally tiny piece of tape on verso, very slight curling along top edge, else Fine. Jacket priced at 18s net. A beautiful copy. Gilbert A13a, 1.2.

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.

A first edition of 'The Man with the Golden Gun' can often be identified by the gold gun embossed on the front cover of the hardback, the lack of a 'New York Times' review on the front flap, and with the original dust jacket designed by Richard Chopping. Prices for first editions can vary widely based on condition and presence of these elements.