James Bond First Editions

The Dark Crusader.

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

London: Collins, 1965. [Spy Thriller] Third 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 priced at 15s. Book is clean, with no inscriptions, contents tanned. Well-preserved jacket was laminated by previous owner, some tape marks to covers as a result, discreet book no.8 added to spine, shows well. 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 #74897

Price: £60.00