James Bond First Editions

The Ace of Knaves [The Saint].

CHARTERIS, Leslie (1907-1993).

London: Hodder and Stoughton, [no date] c.1941. [Modern Literature] VINTAGE HARDCOVER REPRINT, Hodder and Stoughton Yellow Jacket edition. Octavo (18 x 12cm), pp.316. Publisher's red cloth lettered in black to spine, illustrated dust-jacket. Stickman illustration to title page. No inscriptions. Toning to cheap paper, jacket with some chips and tears. Very good. First published in 1937, this undated printing appeared c.1941, as the latest title listed is 'The Saint in Miami'. Renamed 'The Saint in Action' shortly after this edition. According to Paul Simpson (The Rough Guide to James Bond, p.47), 'The Saint' is a literary ancestor of 007, the debonair Simon Templar being a gentleman adventurer whose parallels with Bond are obvious. Item #68451

Price: £38.00