Casino Royale by FLEMING, Ian Lancaster, (1908-1964)

New York: Bantam Books, 1971. [James Bond] First Bantam Paperback edition, first printing. Octavo (16 x 10cm), pp.170. Softcover, all edges tinted yellow, in publisher's illustrated wrappers, front cover is priced 95c. Book store stamp to first leaf else fine, in slightly rubbed covers. Bibliographer's copy, with pencil ownership within. Published in May 1971, only the first seven titles in the Bond series were issued in this format. Rather scarce. Gilbert A1b (11).

London: Vintage Classics, 2017. [James Bond] NEW EDITION With an introduction by John Cork, second printing. Octavo (21 x 14cm), pp.248. Publisher's grey cloth binding, 'Bond & Vesper' patterned endpapers, pictorial dust-wrapper illustrated by Levente Szabo. priced £12.99. A fine, unread copy. Featuring a stunning new cover design from the Budapest-based graphic designer and illustrator Levente Szabo. Carefully selected by Ian Fleming Publications and Vintage Books, only three titles were issued in this edition, representing the best-loved of Ian Fleming James Bond books. Including a new introduction from my colleague John Cork, the James Bond historian and documentary filmmaker, plus a dossier section at the rear entitled 'From The Archives' reproducing some rarely-seen material relating to the original publication of the book. A fine publication, now rather elusive.

London: Pan Books Ltd., 1955. [Spy novel] The FIRST Pan paperback edition, second printing. Series No 334. Octavo (18 x 11cm), pp.159; [1], advertisement. Publisher's softcovers illustrated by 'R.H' (Roger Hall), priced at 2s. No inscriptions. Some browning to pages as expected with the vintage paperbacks, covers are clean, not faded, foot of spine with 1.5 inch tear. A very good, presentable copy. The second and final printing featuring this uncharacteristic 'blonde Bond' illustration. The 'Peff' designed cover of the next printing introduced the now familiar rugged image of Bond, with the comma of black hair over the forehead. Gilbert A1a (2.1).

London: Penguin Books, 2002. [Thriller] PAPERBACK EDITION, first printing thus. Octavo, Pp.[viii]; 213; [3], endmatter. Publisher's illustrated softcovers. A scarce PROMOTIONAL COPY of the Penguin edition, published in conjunction with Men's Health. Unpriced, as called for. Contents are fine, covers a little handled, with minor rubs and wear to extremities. A most uncommon version marked 'Not for resale' to rear cover, with no printed barcode and no ISBN assigned. This book was issued for promotional purposes, given away with copies of Men's Health magazine. A must for completists. Gilbert A1a (57.2).

USA: Berkley Books, 1986. [Spy Fiction] PROMO COPY of the Berkley paperback. Octavo (19 x 13cm). Publisher's softcovers. With silhouette cover design. Minor toning as expected, no inscriptions, coves lightly handled. Near fine. from the Jon Gilbert collection (pencilled ownership within). A promotional copy of the first James Bond novel, not available for general sale. A most uncommon version marked 'Not for resale' to rear cover, with no printed barcode and no ISBN assigned. It comprises the Berkley sheets (ninth printing) in exclusive yellow covers (the regular Berkley copy was purple). These were given away with purchased copies of the then-current John Gardner 007 novel 'No Deals, Mr Bond,' (hardcover first edition included, very good). Rather scarce, and a must for Bond completists. Gilbert A1b (14).

London: Jonathan Cape, 1968. Thriller] Tenth printing. Octavo (20 x 13cm), pp.218; [2]. Publisher's black cloth-effect paper over boards with red titles to spine and 'Heart' design to upper. With the pictorial green 'playing card' dust-jacket illustrated by Pat Marriott, priced at £1.25. A presentable ex-library copy with expected institutional markings and associated wear, some soiling to endpapers, declassification stamp to rear e.p., jacket rather bright with light wear to spine ends, slightly sunned. The majority of Cape's James Bond hardcover reprints were taken into the lending library system to replace existing well-worn stock. Gilbert A1a (10).

London: Jonathan Cape, March 1965. [Spy Thriller] Vintage hardcover. Octavo (20 x 13cm), pp.218; [2], blank. Ninth printing. Publisher's black cloth-effect paper over boards with red titles and 'Heart' design to front cover, 'playing card' jacket designed by Pat Marriott priced at 16s. A used copy, withdrawn from Surrey County Libraries. Contents clean, one neat stamp to title page, trimmed to foot of same leaf, remnants of pocket at rear, no marks to front endpaper. For an ex-library book, it is rather clean; the jacket has some rubbing and chips, darkend to spine, soiled to same. Please see images. Gilbert A1a(9).

London: Jonathan Cape, 1965. [Spy Thriller] Ninth printing, Bibliographer's copy. Octavo (20 x 13cm), pp.218; [2]. Publisher's black cloth-effect paper over boards with red titles to spine and 'Heart' design to upper. With the pictorial green 'playing card' dust-jacket illustrated by Pat Marriott, priced at 18s. Top edge spotted, Foyle's sellers' ticket to pastedown, discreet 'London' written to foot. A near fine copy of the book in a lightly-used jacket, rubbed to folds and extremities, with a few small clear (unnecessary) tape strips to reverse side. Jon Gilbert's file copy, with his pencilled notes, bookplate and ownership signature. His comprehensive guide to the works of Ian Fleming (2012) won the 16th Breslauer Prize for bibliography. Gilbert A1a (9).

London: Jonathan Cape, 1963. [Spy Thriller] Eighth printing, Bibliographer's copy. Octavo (20 x 13cm), pp.218; [2]. Publisher's black cloth-effect paper over boards with red titles to spine and 'Heart' design to upper. With the pictorial green 'playing card' dust-jacket illustrated by Pat Marriott, priced at 16s. A fine copy of the book in a lightly-used jacket with a neat, short tear to rear panel, soft crease to flap. Jon Gilbert's file copy, with his pencilled notes, bookplate and ownership signature. His comprehensive guide to the works of Ian Fleming (2012) won the 16th Breslauer Prize for bibliography. Available from November 1963, this was the final Cape printing of Casino Royale to be published during the author's lifetime. Gilbert A1a (7).

London: Jonathan Cape, 1962. [Spy Thriller] Seventh printing, Bibliographer's copy. Octavo (20 x 13cm), pp.218; [2]. Publisher's black cloth-effect paper over boards with red titles to spine and 'Heart' design to upper. With the pictorial green 'playing card' dust-jacket illustrated by Pat Marriott, priced at 16s. via Cape label. A working copy with associated handling and use, edges toned/spotted, some copy editing, jacket rubbed but without loss, rear panel browned. Jon Gilbert's file copy, with his pencilled notes, bookplate and ownership signature, plus some pictorial reference to Bond's firearms pasted to eps. His comprehensive guide to the works of Ian Fleming (2012) won the 16th Breslauer Prize for bibliography. Only 2991 copies were printed. Gilbert A1a (7).