James Bond First Editions

Spy Story.

DEIGHTON, Len (born 1929).

London: Jonathan Cape / New York: Harcourt Brace, 1974. [Cold War spy thriller] UNCORRECTED PROOF COPY of the first edition. Octavo (22 x 14cm), pp.224. Publisher's red softcovers with 'greek urn' device repeated in white, titles printed in black. Together with FIRST U.S. EDITION, octavo (21 x 14cm), pp.224. Publisher's black quarter cloth hardback, with red metallic titles to spine, red paper over boards, and black and white photographic endpapers. With the gold dust-jacket designed by Raymond Hawkey priced $6.95. Both volumes in bright, near fine conditions (minor rub to proof at joints) The fifth in the so-called 'Harry Palmer' series, although the protagonist is actually unnamed. In the 60's, Len Deighton was the chief rival of fellow Cape-published spy writer Ian Fleming, who had championed his first novel 'The Ipcress File'. Item #75387

Milward-Oliver; Len Deighton Annotated Bibliography p.38.

Price: £125.00