Ian Fleming: Casino Royale: First Edition First Impression (1st/1st) Rare
Item History & Price
(Use the 'make an offer' tab if you want to bag this before bidding ends)
Hello
It's the big one!
Up for auction is the book every modern first edition book collector wants:- the tome that introduced the world to James Bond - Ian Fleming's 1953 classic, Casino Royale.
As modern firsts go, this is stupendously rare, and as-such it's an insanely coveted book. Its tiny initial print-run (a mere 4, 728 first edition, first impression copies were printed), means this is... up there as one the most sought-after first editions out there, period.
With a many as half (or even more) of the first prints going to public libraries, non-library editions are the rarest. Of the 2, 500 or so that could be purchased - just think how many of these will have perished and been destroyed forever over the years. All in all, there's just a miniscule pool of surviving books left. Fewer still exist outside of private collections, and then actually come onto the market.
Given this is NOT an ex-library book, it is a true survivor, and your exceedingly rare opportunity to own this very special book.
THE BOOK:
Let's deal with the obvious first! You'll see from the front that this is somewhat of a hybrid! In the midst of time, the original owner saw fit to trim the cover (just the front DJ) and stick it onto the front board. Ours it not to reason why etc.. but well, it's done. Can you say it has its DJ - clearly not, but to me, the fact some of it is there definitely adds to its originality, and to me it's better than a DJ-less book. I think it gives it a degree of charm, and uniqueness.
The rest of the book:
Please look at all the pics, I've done my best, with the number I'm allotted, to show it in as much detail as possible.
Small condition issues first: There is fraying/surface splitting to the boards on both edges of the spine (but not broken through - the spine is attached to the page block), and if you see the last two pics, on the inside boards you can see separation of the stitching. However, it should be noted the page block is secure to the book still. There is foxing to both the front and back end-papers (moreso the front ones), and there is some spine lean - but these are the only real condition issues of note.
The good news is that once you get to the inside title page, and the following spread showing the first published page and start of the contents page, the pages thereafter are generally very clean and bright and well preserved.
While it's hard to go through every page, the first spread of text (pp128-129) is - in my opinion pretty representative of the majority of the book. Because of its age, the pages are not 100% mark-free, and there are pages with the odd foxing/spots - some more than others - see other pics, but the pics I've shown thereafter are representative of the sort of marks that are present, and I would say that, rest assured, the pages with some marks are by no means the dominant condition of the majority of the pages.
It's worth point out, that there are NO human-made marks - ie inscriptions or writing or dedications, just evidence of the odd crease-fold on a few of the page corners, where someone has saved their page. There is as-expected toning and some spots to the outside page block - but as you can see from the pics, not really significant at all.
If you are at all interested to see more pics of the internal pages, let me know, I'm happy to send as many as you want.
So, what more to say? I guess it's just worth reiterating that all in all, this represents a fantastic opportunity to buy one of the rarest, most sought after modern first editions.
Very few new Casino Royales come up for sale, not 1st/1st anyway, and not at this start price. This is a super rare opportunity. Where else can you get a 1st/1st Casino Royale at this low initial price? Please ask any questions you have, ask for more pics, I'm happy to help.
I will post worldwide - via ebay's global shipping service for outside the UK, and signed for first class anywhere in the UK. The book will be very well packed, so don't worry on that front.
Please note: I believe I described to my best ability - and I pride myself in accurately detailing all Flemings books I sell (I'm a passionate collector, not a dealer or bookshop). I have a proud 100% ebay rating. Sale is as-seen, no returns, so please study the pics thoroughly and ask questions. I've shown as many pics as possible, in as much detail. If you want more, get in touch.
I'm expecting lots of interest, hence the 'make an offer' option. Sensible offers please, I know what this book is worth!
Thanks for looking, good luck offering or bidding.
Peter
