James Bond First Editions

King Rat.

[Fleming, Ian] CLAVELL, James (1921-1994).

[Taipei] Central Publishing Co., 1967. [Modern Literature] Taiwanese Pirated edition, bibliographer's copy. Octavo (19 x 14cm), pp.160. Bound in green cloth hardcovers, titled in gilt to the spine, with illustrated jacket design and supporting quote form Ian Fleming in bold. Contents clean, cheap paper slightly toned, jacket with a couple of tiny nicks and a short tear to rear. RARE pirate printing; such editions rarely survive and are now extremely difficult to acquire (no other copy listed, this being the only copy we have seen). Clavell's acclaimed first adventure novel, set in a Japanese prisoner-of-war camp for allied troops, was well regarded by the James Bond novelist Ian Fleming. Having evidently read an early copy, Fleming provided a favourable supporting blurb for the publisher [Gilbert D29], quotes from which appeared on the book jacket (as here). Bibliographer Jon Gilbert's copy, with his pencilled notes and ownership signature. His comprehensive guide to the works of Ian Fleming (2012) won the 16th Breslauer Prize for bibliography. Item #68015

Gilbert, D29, p548.

Price: £250.00