Books

London: Jonathan Cape, 1964. [Spy novel] FIRST EDITION, First State, Binding A. Octavo (20 x 14cm), pp.256. Publisher's black cloth-effect paper ('Excelin') over boards with silver titles to spine and Japanese characters in gilt to upper, bamboo patterned endpapers. With the dust-jacket illustrated by Richard Chopping, priced at 16s. This copy features one of the earliest jackets, entirely untrimmed and with extra-wide jacket flaps, printed on the heavier stock. Such jackets are considered FINAL PROOF STATE, used to check the spacing of text etc., before printing began in earnest. Subsequent jackets had slimmer flaps with an angled corner cut, and were printed on regular (thinner) dust-jacket paper stock. Contents and edges are clean, slightly toned, no inscriptions, jacket shows gentle handling, lightly rubbed to rear, minor wear to spine ends. Very good indeed. An attractive copy of a scarce variant. Gilbert A12a (1.1).

In 'You Only Live Twice,' James Bond is devastated by the death of his wife and goes to Japan on what seems a diplomatic mission. He becomes involved with the mysterious 'Tiger' Tanaka and his plot to disrupt the Soviet intelligence network in Japan. Bond's revenge takes him on a dangerous quest after his nemesis, Ernst Stavro Blofeld.