James Bond First Editions

Goldfinger.

FLEMING, Ian Lancaster (1908-1964).

London: Jonathan Cape, 1959. [Spy thriller] FIRST EDITION, variant binding with silver lettering, INSCRIBED BY THE DEDICATEE. Octavo (20 x 13cm), pp.318. An unusual pre-publication association/presentation copy with signed inscription by Ian Fleming's literary editor William Plomer. Publisher's black cloth-effect material over boards, with titles to spine in SILVER and 'skull' design to upper in gilt, pictorial dust-wrapper priced 15s. With ink note to flyleaf; A. Franklyn. / from W. Plomer. / March 1959. //. Housed in a custom-made clamshell box. Inscribed on 20th March (pencilled by the owner), three days before the date of release. Top edge slightly spotted else fine, similarly near fine jacket supplied, with minor wear to spine ends. An uncommon variant with silver rather than gold lettering to the backstrip, described in the bibliography as 'very occasionally [blocked] in silver'. William Plomer (1903-73), was a senior reader at Jonathan Cape Ltd., and one of Fleming's most trusted friends. He was instrumental in getting Casino Royale published and read and advised on each successive Fleming manuscript. He was unofficially Fleming's Editor-in Chief, and the novel Goldfinger is dedicated to him [Gilbert, p.650]. This important copy was later part of the comprehensive James Bond collection of bibliographer Jon Gilbert, with accompanying provenance. Item #65480

Gilbert, Jon: Ian Fleming The Bibliography, A7a (1.2), p.235, final line.

Price: £7,500.00