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This same small window, as you would expect, didn't allow for a great deal of variation from first book to last. Most signatures are punctuated with a full stop and underlined, and there are some 1960s examples abbreviated "Ian F," also numerous "From the Author" inscriptions minus a name.

MARKETING ANALYSIS:

Fourteen books make for a small collection; if you're a James Bond collector, it's unlikely you'll stop at this. Needless to say, all UK and US firsts are highly sought after - and we're already up to 28. Outcomes for jacketed firsts will almost invariably finish in three figures; four figures isn't uncommon for UK firsts. Should a copy of any of these survive in F/F condition, things can get crazy. Add a signature, and we arrive at insanity. Ordinarily, I would advise that you dampen your expectations for finding any of these in the field, but since you have fully 28 chances, odds are that you will run into several copies of something over the course of some years. It's important, therefore, to familiarize your self with at least a few issue points - enough to ensure that, if you grab something and it turns out not to be a first, it'll still have value as an early printing by the same publisher. As it happens with many intensely collected authors who published in the 1970s or earlier, early printings with dust jackets are very often WBW (worth bothering with). Grab all, and feel free to spend a little more for something in especially nice condition. Oh - and expect $50 and up outcomes.

Of course, even early printings in dust jackets won't be plentiful, but rest assured that there does exist Bond bread-and-butter for booksellers. Does there ever. There are two marketing keys to keep in mind....

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BIBLIOGRAPHY:

(When different, UK cover art on left; US, on right)

1. Casino Royale

     

1953. London. Jonathan Cape. "First Published 1953" stated at top of title page verso. Three line imprint at bottom - includes "Western Printing Services, Ltd." No additional printings indicated. (Later printings are so stated.) Dust jacket price: 10s. 6d. net. First issue with no Sunday Times blurb on front flap. "Jacket devised by author" stated on front flap. 4,728 copies. Many sold to libraries.

1954. New York. The Macmillan Co. "First Printing" stated on title page verso. Dust jacket price: $2.75. First issue with square cut corners; later issues angle cut.

NOTE: This title was issued in paperback format, re-titled You Asked for It. 1955. London (priority) and New York. Popular Library.

2. Live and Let Die

     

1954. London. Jonathan Cape. "First Published 1954" stated at top of title page verso. Three line imprint at bottom - includes "The Alden Press." No additional printings indicated. (Later printings are so stated.) Dust jacket price: 10s. 6d. net. First issue with Live and Let Die blurb on front flap and no credit for dust jacket art or design. Second and later issues with Kenneth Lewis credits. 7,500 copies.

1955. New York. The Macmillan Co. "First Printing" stated on title page verso. Dust jacket price: $3.00.

3. Moonraker

     

1955. London. Jonathan Cape. "First Published 1955" stated at top of title page verso. Three line imprint at bottom - includes "Western Printing Services, Ltd." No additional printings indicated. (Later printings are so stated.) Presumed first state with "shoot" on bottom line of page 10. Second state with "shoo." Corrected with different typeface in later printings. Two text block thicknesses - 15mm and 19mm - with no established priority. Dust jacket price: 10s. 6d. net. First issue with Kenneth Lewis credits below blurb on front flap. 9,900 copies.

1955. New York. The Macmillan Co. "First Printing" stated on title page verso. Dust jacket price: $2.75.

NOTE: This title was issued in paperback format, re-titled Too Hot to Handle. 1957. New York. Pemabooks. Text Americanized.

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