FLEMING, Ian. The Man with the Golden Gun. (First edition)

London: Jonathan Cape, 1965. First edition, first impression. Octavo. pp. [8], 221. Original black cloth, gilt lettering to spine. In the original unclipped Richard Chopping illustrated dust jacket, priced 18s. net. The cloth is exceptionally fresh with bright gilt to the spine and square, sharp corners. Internally remarkably clean and crisp, free from inscriptions or bookplates, with only the lightest natural toning to the page edges. The dust jacket is unclipped, retaining the original 18s. net price, with only minor rubbing at the extremities and gentle age-toning to the white flaps, housed in a protective archival sleeve. A particularly attractive example of Fleming’s final James Bond novel in original unrestored jacket. A near fine copy.

The thirteenth and final James Bond novel by Ian Fleming, published posthumously on 1 April 1965, eight months after the author’s death. Left substantially complete at the time of Fleming’s passing, the novel sees Bond return from apparent brainwashing by the Soviet Union to undertake one final mission: the assassination of Francisco Scaramanga, the notorious assassin known as “The Man with the Golden Gun.” Set largely in Jamaica, where Fleming wrote all of the Bond novels at Goldeneye, the work carries a darker and more reflective tone than its predecessors. Richard Chopping’s striking dust jacket, depicting the famous gold-plated revolver with spent cartridges and flies, is among the most recognisable designs of the entire Jonathan Cape Bond series and remains highly sought after by collectors.

[L3 10B]