Available Copies from Independent Booksellers
Le Carre, John. CALL FOR THE DEAD. Victor Gollancz: London, 1961.
Price: US$575.00 + shipping
Condition: Very Good
Description: 7.5 x 5", red cloth, 192pp, extremities lightly worn, edges of textblock spotted, pp lightly toned else a nice copy in a nice facsimile dustjacket. FIRST EDITION, Second Impression August 1961.
Seller: John K King Used & Rare Books, Detroit, MI, U.S.A.
le Carre, John. CALL FOR THE DEAD. Gollancz Ltd., London, 1961.
Price: US$950.00 + shipping
Description: First edition of his first book. Endpapers replaced otherwise very good or better with gilt spine lettering strong but unevenly tarnished, text block somewhat aged, offset to half-title from item previously laid in, and minor cover soiling and wear. Lacking original dust jacket but with facsimile provided. HIS FIRST BOOK
Seller: Quill & Brush, member ABAA, Middletown, MD, U.S.A.
John Le Carre. Call for the Dead - BOOK ONLY. Gollancz, London, 1961.
Price: US$1917.60 + shipping
Condition: Very Good
Description: HARDBACK - A very good book with clean red cloth boards that show a little fading to the spine, also to a very small portion to the top left of the front board. The gilt lettering is quite bright. Internally, the pages are clean, but with foxing to the page block, also to the front and rear end-papers. The inner text is clean, free of any dog eared page corners or marks, with no previous owner names or inscriptions inset. A tightly bound copy of the very scarce UK first edition, published by Gollancz. Sadly lacking its dust wrapper.
Seller: West Hull Rare Books - P.B.F.A., Hull, YORKS, United Kingdom
le Carre, John. Call For The Dead.. Victor Gollancz, London, 1961.
Price: US$2750.00 + shipping
Description: First edition of the author's first book, which introduced the world to the recurring protagonist, George Smiley. Octavo, original red cloth. Near fine in a very good second printing dust jacket with a chip to the crown. A sharp example. Call for The Dead introduces George Smiley, probably the greatest figure in all of spy fiction. The New York Times praised the novel as "[a] subtle and acute story of counter-espionage marked by restraint, indirection, and intelligence." The book was adapted into a film entitled The Deadly Affair directed by Sidney Lumet starring James Mason as Smiley. The film received five BAFTA Awards nominations, including Best British Film and Best British Actor.
Seller: Raptis Rare Books, Palm Beach, FL, U.S.A.
John Le Carre (David Cornwell). Call for the Dead. Victor Gollancz, London UK, 1961.
Price: US$3270.82 + shipping
Condition: Very Good
Description: Original red cloth boards with gilt lettering on the spine. Clean end papers and contents. Lightly age browned pages. The yellow unclipped dust jacket is rubbed and lightly grubby. Browned spine and mild chipping to the spine ends and edges. A 3 cm hole on the front cover. Fold on the rear flap. 8vo. 192 pp.
Seller: Rare And Antique Books PBFA, Exeter, DEVON, United Kingdom
John Le Carre. Call For the Dead (inscribed by author). Victor Gollancz, 1961.
Price: US$4000.00 + shipping
Condition: Very Good
Description: "Call for the Dead" by John Le Carre. Victor Gollancz, London. 1961 first UK edition, second impression, signed presentation inscription from the author "good luck with your new novel!" to title. Book in very good condition with minor rubbing to boards, in original dust wrapper with minor creasing to head,marginal toning and ink inscriptions to panels, two small knicks, overall in bright and excellent condition.
Seller: Neverland Books, waalre, Netherlands
John Le Carre. Call for the Dead. Victor Gollancz, London, 1961.
Price: US$6285.10 + shipping
Condition: Near Fine
Description: The first edition, second impression, of John Le Carre's first novel. Double signed by the author to a bookplate to the front pastedown. The first edition, second impression of John Le Carre's first novel. 'Call for the Dead' introduces George Smiley, Le Carre's famous recurring character. This novel concerns East German spies inside Great Britain.Double signed by the author to a bookplate adhered to the title page.With a facsimile dustwrapper.A very smart, early impression of John Le Carre's first novel. In the publisher's original cloth binding. With a facsimile dustwrapper. Externally, in an excellent condition. Minor shelfwear to the head and tail of spine. Signed bookplate to the title page. Internally, firmly bound. Pages are bright. Occasional light spots to pages. Near Fine
Seller: Rooke Books PBFA, Bath, United Kingdom
LE CARRE JOHN. Call for the Dead. Gollancz, London, 1961.
Price: US$6406.95 + shipping
Description: First UK Edition. INSCRIBED BY THE AUTHOR. Superbly rebound by the world-renowned Bayntun-Riviere of Bath. Sumptuously re-bound in full red morocco with all edges gilt, 5 raised bands (lined in gold) to the spine with title blocked in gold in panel 2 and author's name blocked in gold in panel 3, black, red and gold marbled end-papers and single-line gilt border to both the front and back boards. John Le Carre's autograph blocked in gold to the front board. Becoming very scarce indeed. Inscribed by the Author in 1997 to the title page: "For William,/ with all good things/ John Le Carre/ Cornwall/ 14 Jan '97". Further details as to the provenance can be supplied. It would grace any collection of modern first editions. Photographs/scans available upon request.
Seller: James M Pickard, ABA, ILAB, PBFA., LEICESTER, United Kingdom
Le Carre, John. Call For The Dead - SIGNED to a bookplate. London Gollancz 1961, 1961.
Price: US$16033.41 + shipping
Description: A first edition, first printing published by Gollancz in 1961. A near fine book without inscriptions. NO inscriptions, marks or stamps. Minor spot to prelims which has penetrated the pages. SIGNED bookplate to front endpaper. Light fading to the spine. In a dust wrapper which has benefitted from restoration to the spine lettering, rear panel and edges of the front panel. Price clipped. Exceptionally rare first novel by Le Carre. A classic espionage novel that introduces readers to the iconic character George Smiley. The story follows Smiley, a retired intelligence officer, as he investigates the apparent suicide of a British civil servant. As he delves into the mystery, Smiley uncovers a complex web of deceit and political intrigue. The novel, le Carré's debut, skilfully combines elements of a detective story with the tense atmosphere of Cold War espionage.
Seller: John Atkinson Books ABA ILAB PBFA, Harrogate, United Kingdom
le Carre, John. Call For The Dead.. Victor Gollancz, London, 1961.
Price: US$17500.00 + shipping
Description: First edition of the author's first book, which introduced the world to the recurring protagonist, George Smiley. Octavo, original red cloth. Near fine in a near fine dust jacket. Housed in a custom half morocco clamshell box made by the Harcourt Bindery. An exceptional example, uncommon in this condition. Call for The Dead introduces George Smiley, probably the greatest figure in all of spy fiction. The New York Times praised the novel as "[a] subtle and acute story of counter-espionage marked by restraint, indirection, and intelligence." The book was adapted into a film entitled The Deadly Affair directed by Sidney Lumet starring James Mason as Smiley. The film received five BAFTA Awards nominations, including Best British Film and Best British Actor.
Seller: Raptis Rare Books, Palm Beach, FL, U.S.A.
le Carre, John. Call For The Dead.. Victor Gollancz, London, 1961.
Price: US$22500.00 + shipping
Description: First edition of the author's first book, which introduced the world to the recurring protagonist, George Smiley. Octavo, original red cloth. Signed by John le Carre on the title page. Near fine in a near fine price-clipped dust jacket with light expert restoration. With a signed letter from le Carre's secretary stating that he will sign this first edition. A sharp example, uncommon signed. Call for The Dead introduces George Smiley, probably the greatest figure in all of spy fiction. The New York Times praised the novel as "[a] subtle and acute story of counter-espionage marked by restraint, indirection, and intelligence." The book was adapted into a film entitled The Deadly Affair directed by Sidney Lumet starring James Mason as Smiley. The film received five BAFTA Awards nominations, including Best British Film and Best British Actor.
Seller: Raptis Rare Books, Palm Beach, FL, U.S.A.
Price: US$25012.13 + shipping
Condition: Near Fine
Description: UNCORRECTED PROOF COPY OF THE FIRST EDITION - Publisher,s original brown card covers with black printed titles within a border to the upper cover, and the publisher's UNCORRECTED stamp below. Printed at The Garden City Press Ltd, Letchworth, Herts. The book is in near fine condition, with a little light creasing to the front and rear card covers. Internally, the pages are clean with just a small stain to the lower page block. Signed by the author to the title page, reading JOHN LE CARRE / AKA / DAVID CORNWELL. An incredibly rare proof title, it being the only copy we have handled in over fifteen years of dealing in John Le Carre titles.
Seller: West Hull Rare Books - P.B.F.A., Hull, YORKS, United Kingdom
Le Carre, John. Call For The Dead.. Victor Gollancz, London, 1961.
Price: US$32500.00 + shipping
Description: First edition of the author's first book, which introduced the world to the recurring protagonist, George Smiley. Octavo, original red cloth. Signed by the author on the title page in a contemporary hand, "John le Carre David Cornwell." Fine in a near fine price-clipped dust jacket. Housed in a custom clamshell box. An exceptional example, most rare and desirable using his real name and his pen name. Call for The Dead introduces George Smiley, probably the greatest figure in all of spy fiction. The New York Times praised the novel as "[a] subtle and acute story of counter-espionage marked by restraint, indirection, and intelligence." The book was adapted into a film entitled The Deadly Affair directed by Sidney Lumet starring James Mason as Smiley. The film received five BAFTA Awards nominations, including Best British Film and Best British Actor.
Seller: Raptis Rare Books, Palm Beach, FL, U.S.A.