James Bond First Editions

Thunderball (A James Bond Novel).

FLEMING, Ian Lancaster (1908-1964).

London: Jonathan Cape, 1961. [James Bond] LEATHER-BOUND FIRST EDITION, first impression. Octavo (19 x 13cm), pp.254. Elegantly hand-bound in black half oasis morocco over publisher's original cloth blocked with skeleton hand design, raised bands to spine, twin red morocco title labels, all edges lightly trimmed. A crisp, clean copy in an attractive new leather binding. 'Thunderball' is one of the most pivotal works of the series. It was in this novel that Fleming first introduces the world to the ultimate Bond villain- Ernest Stavro Blofeld. Though Bond and Blofeld never actually meet here, it is in this book that Bond first battles the schemes of SPECTRE, Blofeld's criminal organisation. It is the first part of the so-called 'Blofeld' trilogy, and was followed by 'On Her Majesty's Secret Service' (1963) and 'You Only Live Twice' (1964). The title was filmed in 1965, starring Sean Connery as 007, Claudine Auger as Domino and Adolfo Celi as Emilio Largo- SPECTRE's No.2. The later film 'Never Say Never Again', with Connery once more as 007, was loosely based on this story. Item #71168

Gilbert A9a (1.1).

Price: £250.00