James Bond First Editions

Affair at Quala.

HELMORE, Thomas.

London: Jonathan Cape, 1964. [Thriller] FIRST UK EDITION. Octavo (19 x 13cm), pp.253; [3], blank. Publisher's blue cloth, top edge blue, with illustrated dust-jacket priced at 18s. Contents clean, no inscriptions, jacket with one short tear at foot of spine. Near fine. A San Francisco-based mystery, this novel was read by Ian Fleming in proof-form, potentially for review; curiously, characters in this book include John Bryce, Hammond and Mathis, all of whose names had previously been used by Fleming in his spy series. This copy is from the comprehensive James Bond collection assembled by Jon Gilbert (pencilled notes and signature within). His comprehensive guide to the works of Ian Fleming (2012) won the 16th Breslauer Prize for bibliography. Item #65575

See Gilbert, Section L, pp.632 (this actual copy being photographed).

Price: £75.00