THE HUNT FOR RED OCTOBER by Clancy, Tom - 1984

Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press, 1984. Fine in near-fine jacket.. First edition, first issue of Clancy's first novel, introducing Jack Ryan. Baltimore-born Clancy was an insurance salesman before his Cold War espionage thriller exploded in popularity - thanks in large part to Ronald Reagan, who was photographed holding a copy of the classic dust jacket featuring a red hammer and sickle over a black submarine, and who called the story "the perfect yarn." It swept through the military and the White House, the ideal recommendation for a book with a CIA analyst as the hero. 9.25'' x 5.75''. Original red cloth with blind-stamped hammer/sickle and submarine design on front board, silver-lettered spine. In original dust jacket with no price on front flap and six blurbs on rear panel. Tan endpapers. 18-line copyright statement, printed on heavy paper stock. 387, [3] pages. Trace of toning to jacket with shallow crinkle to top edge.