James Bond First Editions

The Dark Crusader.

STUART, Ian [Pseudonym of MACLEAN, Alistair] (1922-1987).

London: Collins, 1961. [Spy Thriller] FIRST EDITION, first impression. Octavo (21 x 14cm), pp.256. Publisher's blue cloth with gilt titles to spine. With the dust-jacket illustrated by Pino Dell-Orco. An export copy, not priced. Contents clean, edges of text block browned (as often), no inscriptions, jacket gently used with some minor marks, one short tear at foot of spine. A decent example. The best-selling adventure writer's first book under the pseudonym 'Ian Stuart', which was followed by 'The Satan Bug' in 1962. Both are now scarce. This title is Maclean's attempt at a James Bond-style Secret Service thriller and bears all the hallmarks of the genre; exotic locations, beautiful girls, daring knife fights, and a criminal mastermind backed by sadistic Chinese henchmen. Item #74895

Price: £180.00