My stock consists mainly of 20th Century first editions. I actively seek out inscribed copies. I also look for children’s books, many of which are signed and some with drawings. Some children’s books are pop ups. I seek these in good condition unspoiled by a child’s attention.
I have recently been buying 19th century books by Dickens and Austen, as well as early Shakespeare - both individual plays and collections. Some of these can be found here.
London: Jonathan Cape, 1964
8vo., black publisher’s boards, lettered in silver to spine with publisher’s device to foot; Japanese characters gilt to front board; bamboo-effect endpapers; together in the unclipped dustwrapper (16s. net to front flap) featuring the toad, dragonfly and flower design by Richard Chopping; pp. [xiv], 15-255, [i]; a very good copy, small mark to upper board; lightly spotted to upper and fore-edge, with a few spots extending to the prelims; the wrapper near-fine, slightly darkened along the backstrip and folds, very lightly rubbed and nicked to edges.
First edition, first impression, second state, binding A, with ‘March 1964’ to publication page.
The final book in Fleming’s ‘Blofeld Trilogy’ (preceded by Thunderball (1961) and On Her Majesty's Secret Service (1963)), which includes “some fine travel writing” (Gilbert). In 1959 Fleming had visited Japan, and had decided that his next Bond book would be set in “the land of the rising sun”. The present plot was written from a series of notebooks Fleming kept during his twelve days in the country, in which he noted down customs, phrases, philosophies and plot ideas during the trip. The story follows a grieving Bond as he is sent by M on one final ‘near-impossible’ mission. A spy master, a Swiss botanist, a ‘castle of death’ and some very thorough ninja training all feature. It was to be the final Bond novel published in the author’s lifetime - he passed away on 12th August 1964 at the age of just 56.
“You only live twice:
Once when you are born,
And once when you look death in the face”.
Gilbert, p. 391-2.
London: Jonathan Cape, 1966
8vo., lettered typographically in gilt to upper cover and spine with publisher’s device to foot; textured grey endpapers; together in the neatly-clipped pictorial dustwrapper featuring a shell and fish design by Richard Chopping; pp. [x], 11-94, [ii]; essentially a fine copy, with just a couple of very light scratches to the outer edge of the text block and one tiny corner crease; the wrapper, aside from the clipping, fine, and incredibly fresh.
First edition, first impression, binding A in brown cloth. A collection of two short stories, published two years after the author’s death from a heart attack in 1964.
Inspired by a Sunday Times story regarding a cache of Nazi gold hidden in the Austrian Alps, Fleming began writing Octopussy in 1962. The plot of the first story sees Bond as a third party, privy to the events which unfold in the novel and centre around an ageing Major Smythe who, in a very similar vein to Fleming himself, is a former military man, heavy drinker and smoker who has suffered a number of near-fatal heart attacks.The Living Daylights follows Bond as he travels to Berlin to rescue a fellow agent.
Due to the clipping (and therefore lack of price) the issue is undetermined, but this remains an exceptional copy of the final book in the Bond series.
Gilbert, p. 445-6
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