Available Copies from Independent Booksellers
Fleming, Ian. Thunderball. Jonathan Cape, London, 1961.
Price: US$60.00 + shipping
Condition: Fair
Description: No sigantures. Rubbing to ends of spine. 2" split to paper at head of front spine joint. 1 1/4" split to paper at head of rear spine joint. Up to 3/8" loss of paper at corners of boards. Front hinge split. Adhesive tape repair to front hinge. Rear hinge starting. 1/2" knock to top edge of rear board. Spine lean. Binding a little shaky. ; (254) pages. Brown papered boards with gilt lettering. Blind-stamped skeletal hand on front board. First impression. Page dimensions: 188mm x 120mm. "Thunderball presents the blue-print for a monstrous crime that could be just around the corner in history. James Bond is in disgrace. His monthly medical report is critical of the high living that is ruining his health, and M packs him off for a fortnight to a nature-cure clinic to be tuned-up to his former pitch of exceptional fitness." ; 12mo
Seller: Renaissance Books, ANZAAB / ILAB, Dunedin, New Zealand
Ian Fleming. Thunderball (1st printing). Jonathan Cape, 1961.
Price: US$100.71 + shipping
Condition: Good
Description: Boards have some markings/knocks, spine mildly sunned, blind-stamped front. Content clean and bright but pen front endpaper, tea (?) stain contents page, 254pp with spotting/marks to closed page ends. No DJ
Seller: BoundlessBookstore, Wallingford, United Kingdom
Price: US$115.38 + shipping
Condition: Very Good
Description: True first British printing. No jacket. A James Bond story. Black boards with gold lettering to spine and skeletal hand design impressed to front are very good with minor pushing to corners, the odd very small mark, odd small bump/rub to edges and a little pushing/rubbing to head/tail of spine. Pages are generally clean and the binding is tight. Pages bit tanned. Odd small mark/spots of foxing to page edges and bottoms. Odd small marks/minor foxing to top edge of pages. Previous owner's (large) signature in pen to front end-paper. Occasional small marks/spots of foxing to pages. No other faults. A nice copy. All books described honestly and accurately. Paypal accepted.
Seller: PW Books, Andover, HANTS, United Kingdom
Ian Fleming. Thunderball. Jonathan Cape, London, 1961.
Price: US$121.85 + shipping
Condition: Very Good
Description: HARDBACK - A very good book bound in the publisher's black cloth boards. The boards are clean with bright gilt lettering present to the spine. There is pushing to the spine tips, there is also a small indentation to the bottom centre of the rear board. Internally the book is free of any previous owner names or inscriptions, but there is some foxing to the page block that does not encroach into the inner text.
Seller: West Hull Rare Books - P.B.F.A., Hull, YORKS, United Kingdom
Price: US$185.99 + shipping
Condition: Very Good
Description: HARDBACK - A near very good book bound in the publisher's black cloth boards with bright text to the spine.There is rubbing to the spine tips, with a neatly repaired small closed tear to the base of the spine. There is also very mild fading to the boards. Internally, there is toning to the page block, but with no signs of foxing to the page block or to the inner text. Free of any previous owner names or inscriptions. Boldly inscribed by the actress Martine Beswick, who played Paula Caplan in the 1965 movie. Martine Beswick is one of only a few Bond girls who have appeared in more than one film. Martine also appeared in the film Dr No in 1962. Sadly no dust wrapper.
Seller: West Hull Rare Books - P.B.F.A., Hull, YORKS, United Kingdom
Ian Fleming. Thunderball. Jonathan Cape, 1961.
Price: US$198.81 + shipping
Condition: Very Good
Description: First / First - Very Good + condition. Comes with facsimile D/J. Internally bright and clean throughout - One inscription to front board as shown in pictures. Corners and head / tail of spine minor bumping. Overall a VG + Copy.
Seller: William Collins Rare and Collectable Books, Grimsby, United Kingdom
Fleming, Ian. Thunderball. Jonathan Cape, London, 1961.
Price: US$216.00 + shipping
Condition: Good
Description: Cracking at head of gutter on front panel extending about 1" but not separated. Soiling to bottom page edges. Paris bookstores stamp on front pastedown. Two bumped corners have frayed at bottom fore-edge corners. Skeletal hand blindstamped into front panel board. Moderate spine lean. Dust Jacket is professionally made and protected in mylar. Size: 12mo - over 6¾" - 7¾" tall
Seller: Timothy Norlen Bookseller, Santa Barbara, CA, U.S.A.
Fleming, Ian. Thunderball. Jonathan Cape, London, 1961.
Price: US$220.00 + shipping
Condition: Very Good
Description: 254 pages (complete). True first edition. A pleasing copy. Original dustjacket by Richard Chopping (skeletal hand, pen-knife and playing cards). The price (15s. net) is unclipped. The dustjacket has a clear plastic protective cover. The dj has creasing, scuffing, wear all about from handling, storage. The rear flap is stained. The dj is still comfortable, sure. Black boards with blind-stamped skeleton hand. They have shelving wear to the corners. . no inscriptions. The papertrims are speckled with mild foxing and a light stain. mild smudges of foxing and light staining. Otherwise, the pages are agreeably healthy. They are clean, clear, comfortable, certain, companionable, relaxed, tidy, neat. fk. Our orders are shipped using tracked courier delivery services.
Seller: Chapter 1, Johannesburg, GAU, South Africa
Ian Fleming. Thunderball. Jonathan Cape, 1961.
Price: US$224.47 + shipping
Condition: Very Good
Description: Very good condition, first edition, first impression 1961. Spine undamaged, pages clean and bright. Brown boards with gilt lettering, intact, undamaged and embossed with skeletal hand design. No tape, inscriptions, notes, price clipping or marking, very small bookseller sticker at the base of the front board. Dustjacket with iconic illustration by Richard Chopping. Dustjacket has light rubbing at the edges and small tears to the top, but remains in very good condition. More images available on request.
Seller: Henfold Books, Glasgow, United Kingdom
Ian Fleming. Thunderball w/Original Dust Jacket 1st UK Printing. Jonathan Cape (U.K.), 1961.
Price: US$249.99 + shipping
Condition: Very Good
Description: IAN FLEMING - THUNDERBALL, published by Jonathan Cape, copyright 1961, First Printing (states "First Published 1961" At top of copyright page with no references to subsequent printings), white endpapers, list in front of book to "For Your Eyes Only", rear flap continues the brief Ian Fleming bio (confirming its a 1st state DJ), black boards with impressed skeleton hand to front board and gold gilt lettering on spine. Richard Chopping illustrated DJ. Book has just a couple of creased page corner, no foxing to pages or endpapers or foxing, slight dust soiling/age darkening to outer page edges, no soiling or erasures or scotch tape marks to endpapers, no former ownership markings or used bookstore stamps inside (original bookseller's small label at bottom gutter to inside front board), no internal hinge splitting, no wear to board edges, hint of wear to board corners, wear to spine tips, bumped rear board corner, slight wear to gilt lettering on spine (no oxidizing), irregular fading but no soiling/discoloration to boards. Dust jacket has small chip to top left on front panel otherwise no chipping, tearing or creasing, wear to spine tips with 'v' loss to spine tip corners, slight wear to front flap crease (nick losses at flap crease corners), hint of wear to left/right on spine, slight edge wear, no spine sun darkening (common defect with this DJ - normally the wood grain to top of spine is found age darkened), several dark spots to front panel/right edge of spine otherwise no other staining/soiling. Overall a VG book in VG- condition dust jacket (price clipped) of an Ian Fleming original U.K. Cape hardcover book. I have a number of other U.S. and U.K. Ian Fleming James Bond 1st printing hardcover appearances up for sale.
Seller: Far North Collectible Books, Anchorage, AK, U.S.A.
FLEMING, IAN:. Thunderball.. London, Jonathan Cape, 1961 1st edition, 1961.
Price: US$253.97 + shipping
Description: Hardback, approx 8 x 5 inches. The book has a fine half leather black binding with gilded titles and publishing year on spine and raised bands, retaining the original blind skeleton hand on front board. In very good condition. Two very small faint marks on cloth skeleton hand front board. No penned inscriptions. A very clean and tight copy. 254pp.
Seller: PROCTOR / THE ANTIQUE MAP & BOOKSHOP, DORCHESTER, United Kingdom
Ian Fleming. THUNDERBALL. Jonathan Cape, London, 1961.
Price: US$280.00 + shipping
Description: James bon 007 spy series,early novel in the series.Pictorial dust wrapperJacket is basically good,except fpr some rubbing at extreameties and 1.5 cm tears at top and bottom of spine,not price clipped.Book is in lovely condition
Seller: THE BOOK SHOP, HASTINGS, HBN, New Zealand
FLEMING, Ian Lancaster, (1908-1964). Thunderball. London: Jonathan Cape, 1961, 1961.
Price: US$288.60 + shipping
Description: [James Bond] LEATHER BOUND FIRST EDITION. Octavo (19 x 13cm), pp.254. Elegantly bound in black half oasis morocco over matching cloth sides, spine gilt-titled in six compartments with traditional raised bands, original 'skeleton hand' stamped cloth cover bound in at rear, red endpapers. Contents clean, some light spotting to edges. Near fine, in an attractive recent leather binding. 'Thunderball' is one of the most pivotal works of the series. It was in 'Thunderball' that Fleming first introduced the world to the ultimate Bond villain, Ernest Stavro Blofeld. Though Bond and Blofeld never actually meet here, it is in this book that Bond first battles the schemes of SPECTRE, Blofeld's criminal organisation. It is the first part of the so-called 'Blofeld' trilogy, and was followed by 'On Her Majesty's Secret Service' (1963) and 'You Only Live Twice' (1964). The title was filmed in 1965, starring Sean Connery as 007, Claudine Auger as Domino and Adolfo Celi as Emilio Largo â" SPECTRE's No.2. The later film 'Never Say Never Again', with Connery again as 007, was loosely based on this story. Gilbert A9a (1.1).
Seller: Adrian Harrington Ltd, PBFA, ABA, ILAB, Royal Tunbridge Wells, KENT, United Kingdom
Price: US$288.60 + shipping
Description: [James Bond] LEATHER-BOUND FIRST EDITION. Octavo (19 x 13cm), pp.254. Elegantly bound in black half calf, with raised bands, gilt titles to spine, and the publisher's original cloth laid over boards. All edges lightly trimmed. A crisp, clean copy in an attractive new leather binding. 'Thunderball' is one of the most pivotal works of the series. It was in this novel that Fleming first introduces the world to the ultimate Bond villain- Ernest Stavro Blofeld. Though Bond and Blofeld never actually meet here, it is in this book that Bond first battles the schemes of SPECTRE, Blofeld's criminal organisation. It is the first part of the so-called 'Blofeld' trilogy, and was followed by 'On Her Majesty's Secret Service' (1963) and 'You Only Live Twice' (1964). The title was filmed in 1965, starring Sean Connery as 007, Claudine Auger as Domino and Adolfo Celi as Emilio Largo- SPECTRE's No.2. The later film 'Never Say Never Again', with Connery once more as 007, was loosely based on this story. Gilbert A9a (1.1).
Seller: Adrian Harrington Ltd, PBFA, ABA, ILAB, Royal Tunbridge Wells, KENT, United Kingdom
FLEMING, Ian Lancaster (1908-1964). Thunderball. London: Jonathan Cape, 1961, 1961.
Price: US$320.67 + shipping
Description: [Spy thriller] FIRST EDITION, Binding 'A', bibliographer's copy. Octavo (19 x 13cm), pp.254. Publisher's cloth-effect paper over boards with embossed skeleton hand design to upper board, gilt titles to spine. A very good, working copy with some light copy editing, provided with a later plain brown paper jacket with printed labels, made for ready-reference purposes. Jon Gilbert's file copy, with his pencilled notes, bookplate and ownership signature to f.e.p. His comprehensive guide to the works of Ian Fleming (2012) won the 16th Breslauer Prize for bibliography. Gilbert A9a (1.1).
Seller: Adrian Harrington Ltd, PBFA, ABA, ILAB, Royal Tunbridge Wells, KENT, United Kingdom
Price: US$350.00 + shipping
Description: 1st Edition Clamshell Collecor's Case. No Binding. First Edition Clamshell Case. Fleming, Ian. THUNDERBALL. Custom Clamshell Case Only. London, [1961, Book Date]: Jonathan Cape, 1961. First Edition Clamshell Case. Excellent Custom Clamshell Case [Not A Book] For The First Edition. Elegant Black Nuba® & Fine Dark Green Cloth, Custom Gilt-Stamped at the spine. Embossed multi-layered, [sculpted] Skeleton& Card design on the side. Finished in black velour on the interior. A superb & unique protective clamshell case for the first edition of Fleming's ninth 007 novel. This case available in cloth or Nuba®. [A fine leather version also available. Please inquire about cost.] All 14 Fleming titles available individually. Full sets available.
Seller: TBCL The Book Collector's Library, Montreal, QC, Canada
FLEMING, Ian Lancaster, (1908-1964). Thunderball. London: Jonathan Cape, 1961, 1961.
Price: US$352.74 + shipping
Description: [James Bond] LEATHER BOUND FIRST EDITION, bibliographer's copy. Octavo (19 x 13cm), pp.254. Elegantly bound in black half oasis morocco over matching cloth sides, spine gilt-titled in six compartments with traditional raised bands. Contents clean, exterior as new. A fine copy in an attractive recent leather binding. Jon Gilbert's file copy, with his pencilled note and ownership signature to free endpaper, seller ticket 'Hall's Bookshop' (Adrian Harrington) to the pastedown. His comprehensive guide to the works of Ian Fleming (2012) won the 16th Breslauer Prize for bibliography. 'Thunderball' is one of the most pivotal works of the series. It was in 'Thunderball' that Fleming first introduced the world to the ultimate Bond villain, Ernest Stavro Blofeld. Though Bond and Blofeld never actually meet here, it is in this book that Bond first battles the schemes of SPECTRE, Blofeld's criminal organisation. It is the first part of the so-called 'Blofeld' trilogy, and was followed by 'On Her Majesty's Secret Service' (1963) and 'You Only Live Twice' (1964). The title was filmed in 1965, starring Sean Connery as 007, Claudine Auger as Domino and Adolfo Celi as Emilio Largo â" SPECTRE's No.2. The later film 'Never Say Never Again', with Connery again as 007, was loosely based on this story. Gilbert A9a (1.1).
Seller: Adrian Harrington Ltd, PBFA, ABA, ILAB, Royal Tunbridge Wells, KENT, United Kingdom
Ian Fleming. Thunderball. Jonathan Cape, 1961.
Price: US$378.39 + shipping
Condition: Good
Description: First edition. The good news- black boards with blind-impressed skeletal hand on front cover.Binding secure, white endpapers Dustwrapper complete (15s net) though some edge wear and closed nicks by top of spine. Smart in new Brodart overwrapper. The bad news , one or two spots to fore-edges and speckling to top edges (undusted shelves). Also slight 'shelfy' scent.
Seller: Ystwyth Books, Aberystwyth, United Kingdom
FLEMING, Ian.. Thunderball. , 1961.
Price: US$397.93 + shipping
Description: London: Jonathan Cape, (1961). Octavo, in original black cloth-effect paper-covered boards with blind-stamped illustration of a skeleton hand to front board and gilt title to spine. In original pictorial dust jacket by Richard Chopping (price-clipped, slight edge-wear). First edition. Small bookseller's stamp to front free fly-leaf and spotting to top edge of text block, otherwise clean. NOTE: The ninth James Bond book, in which international crime syndicate SPECTRE, headed by arch-villain Ernst Stavro Blofeld (No. 1), is introduced for the first time.
Seller: Berkelouw Rare Books, Berrima, NSW, Australia
Ian Fleming. Thunderball. Jonathan Cape, 1961.
Price: US$448.94 + shipping
Condition: Very Good
Description: First edition, with publisher's price sticker of 16s 8d over the original 15s., original black embossed cloth, dust jacket with some damage around the edges, internally very good. The ninth Bond novel
Seller: Theoc Books, Tewkesbury, GLOS, United Kingdom
Fleming,Ian. Thunderball. Jonathan Cape, London, 1961.
Price: US$448.94 + shipping
Condition: Very Good
Description: This is a Very Good Copy of this Book in Publisher's black cloth with vibrant gilt title lettering to spine and with skeletal hand stamped in blind to the front cover and with one slight nick to cloth at head of spine.Complete with original dust-jacket graded Very Good which has one closed tear to the base of spine and one small closed tear to the top edge of the spine and a couple of miniscule tear to head of spine also.Not price clipped with 15s net still present.This copy has NO previous names or inscriptions present.Clean copy internally with just a little age toning to page edges but with NO foxing.A decent addition to any fleming collection.This copy has a firm binding with NO hinge weakness.8vo 254pp First UK Edition 1st Impression [1961]
Seller: Richard Thornton Books PBFA, Old Langho, United Kingdom
Price: US$448.94 + shipping
Description: [Journal] Pp.24. Price ninepence. Magazine format, illustrated. Publisher Jonathan Cape's literary magazine for the publishing industry, booksellers and the public alike. Contains the first separate appearance of S.P.E.C.T.R.E.'s ransom letter sent to the Prime Minister, extracted from the novel 'Thunderball' (Chapter 1 'Fasten your lap-strap' p74-6). The book-form novel was published on 27th March 1961 and it is quite likely this extract appears before that date; the magazine is the 'Spring 1961' number but, like most periodicals, would likely have been despatched just prior to the season in which it would have been current. This extract is accompanied by an exclusive introductory paragraph. Near fine condition. NOTE; features an error to title page, listing 'Summer, 1961' instead of 'Spring 1961' as listed on the cover. The 'Spring, 1961' date is believed correct, as this would fit the consecutive Spring/Autumn release pattern, as adopted by the publisher at this time. No corrected copies identified. Gilbert A9a, pages 301, 539.
Seller: Adrian Harrington Ltd, PBFA, ABA, ILAB, Royal Tunbridge Wells, KENT, United Kingdom
Price: US$481.00 + shipping
Description: [Fleming] Pp.24. Price ninepence. Magazine format, illustrated. Publisher Jonathan Cape's literary magazine for the publishing industry, booksellers and the public alike. Contains the first separate appearance of S.P.E.C.T.R.E.'s ransom letter sent to the Prime Minister, extracted from the novel 'Thunderball' (Chapter 1 'Fasten your lap-strap' p74-6). The book-form novel was published on 27th March 1961 and it is quite likely this extract appears before that date; the magazine is the 'Spring 1961' number but, like most periodicals, would likely have been despatched just prior to the season in which it would have been current. This extract is accompanied by an exclusive introductory paragraph. Near fine condition. NOTE; features an error to title page, listing 'Summer, 1961' instead of 'Spring 1961' as listed on the cover. The 'Spring, 1961' date is believed correct, as this would fit the consecutive Spring/Autumn release pattern, as adopted by the publisher at this time. No corrected copies identified.
Seller: Adrian Harrington Ltd, PBFA, ABA, ILAB, Royal Tunbridge Wells, KENT, United Kingdom
IAN FLEMING. THUNDERBALL. JONATHAN CAPE, 1961.
Price: US$495.00 + shipping
Condition: Very Good
Description: First Edition, First Printing: A lovely clean copy in the original unclipped slightly nicked dust jacket. Crisp black covered boards with a stamped skeleton hand to the front of the boards. Bright unfaded gilt titles to spine. The book has sharp corners, one slightly pushed, and no edgwear but one small edge bump to the rear board. The cloth is clean and without marks or stains, but has one tiny split to the cloth at the top of the spine. The book has internally extremely clean pages with no stains, no foxing, no bent pages, no handling marks, but has one very very tiny owner name to the front end paper (paste down), which is neatly hidden behind the dust jacket inner flap. Please see images for details. The original unrestored lightly nicked and chipped dust jacket is in very good condition. The jacket has lovely bright colors. The dust jacket is NOT price clipped and has a stated price of 15s net. Please see images for more details. A nice copy at a great price for this title. ADDITIONAL IMAGES AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST. SEE OUR ABE STORE FOR MORE IAN FLEMING TITLES.
Seller: Meier And Sons Rare Books, New Canaan, CT, U.S.A.
Fleming, Ian. Thunderball. Jonathan Cape, 1961.
Price: US$500.00 + shipping
Condition: Very Good
Description: A very good first edition in a very good dust jacket. Not price clipped but with a new price sticker affixed to corner flap, covering the printed price. Slight discoloration on endpapers. Housed in a custom-made collector's slipcase.
Seller: Bookbid, Beverly Hills, CA, U.S.A.
FLEMING, IAN.. Thunderball. London: Jonathan Cape, 1961, 1961.
Price: US$500.00 + shipping
Description: First Edition. Owner's inscription on the front free endpaper; very good in a browned dust jacket. All books described as first editions are first printings unless otherwise noted.
Seller: Peter L. Stern & Co., Inc, Newton, MA, U.S.A.
Ian Fleming. Thunderball. Jonathan Cape, 1961.
Price: US$506.66 + shipping
Condition: Very Good
Description: *** BOOK in very good unmarked clean and tight condition. Black cloth effect boards with gilt title on spine. Upper board has stamped skeletal hand and wrist. Very small bump to upper top corner, .edges of text block slightly toned. 254 pages. See images for details on copyright page. ***DUST JACKET in fair condition, small tears along edges and folds worn. Now Trimsleeve protected. (see images). Design by Richard Chopping. Not price clipped (15s), although there are small printer's corner clips *** CONTENTS: This is the ninth book in the series, and introduced SPECTRE and Blofeld into the mix. Please note that the seller will bear all costs for extra insurance and tracking on this book. Size: 195x130mm
Seller: Salusbury Books, GLASGOW, United Kingdom
Fleming, Ian. Thunderball. Jonathan Cape, London, UK, 1961.
Price: US$506.66 + shipping
Condition: Very Good
Description: First edition, first impression. 254pp. In black cloth effect boards with embossed skeletal hand on front panel, gilt titles stamped on spine. Cloth very slightly rounded at corners and spine tips. Minor spotting on text block edges. Internally neat, clean, bright and tight barring discreet previous owner's name inked on front paste down. In its original dust jacket, rubbed and scuffed at corners, edges and folds, lightly chipped at spine ends. First issue dust jacket, priced at 15s and the brief biography continuing on rear flap. Dust jacket now protected in a Brodart-style sleeve, fitted without the use of tape or adhesives.
Seller: BookAddiction (ibooknet member), Canterbury, United Kingdom
FLEMING, Ian. Thunderball. London: Jonathan Cape, 1961.
Price: US$513.07 + shipping
Description: First edition. 8vo. 253, (1) pp. Publisher's dark brown cloth, gilt lettered to spine and with the design of a skeletal hand blindstamped on the upper board, dust jacket, not price clipped (price 15s). Slight tanning to the jacket spine, edge wear with small losses to the spine ends and corners, else very good. Gilbert, A9a, (1.1), binding A.
Seller: Bow Windows Bookshop (ABA, ILAB), Lewes, United Kingdom
Fleming, Ian. Thunderball. Jonathan Cape, 1961.
Price: US$575.00 + shipping
Condition: Fine
Description: A fine first edition in a fine dust jacket. Prior owner's bookstamp from exotic Singapore on bottom corner of front free endpaper. Original price of 15s. net present on front flap and First Published 1961 stated on the copyright page.
Seller: Bookbid, Beverly Hills, CA, U.S.A.
FLEMING, IAN.. Thunderball. London: Jonathan Cape, 1961, 1961.
Price: US$575.00 + shipping
Description: First Edition. Very good in a very good dust jacket with some minor staining and wear. All books described as first editions are first printings unless otherwise noted.
Seller: Peter L. Stern & Co., Inc, Newton, MA, U.S.A.
FLEMING, Ian. Thunderball. Jonathan Cape, London, 1961.
Price: US$596.89 + shipping
Condition: Very Good
Description: Hardcover : pp. (8) 9-[254] : plain e.p.s : black cloth effect paper covered boards lettered in gilt to spine : skeleton hand debossed to top board : dust jacket designed by Richard Chopping priced 15s and with the four Cape clipped corners. Bookseller and ownership stamps to the endpapers; top edge lightly toned and spotted; spotting to fore edge and base of block; verso of jacket is toned. This copy in Binding A with the gilt to spine. [Gilbert A9a (1.1)]. First Edition, First Printing, first state.
Seller: Archives Fine Books (ANZAAB, ILAB), Brisbane, QLD, Australia
FLEMING, Ian Lancaster (1908-1964). Thunderball. London: Jonathan Cape, 1961, 1961.
Price: US$609.27 + shipping
Description: [Spy thriller] FIRST EDITION, Binding 'A'. Octavo (19 x 13cm), pp.254; [2], bank. Publisher's cloth-effect paper over boards with embossed skeleton hand design to upper board, gilt titles to spine, dust-wrapper illustrated by Richard Chopping priced 15s. Very good in similar jacket, with a little edge wear and some surface rubbing to crown. Formerly the property of Wing Commander Edward Jackson, RAF Waltham (where HRH Prince Philip learned to fly), with his ownership signature, series numbers to book and jacket spine. Previously sold by Francis Edwards, ABA (catalogue slip inserted). Gilbert, Jon: Ian Fleming The Bibliography, A9a (1.1).
Seller: Adrian Harrington Ltd, PBFA, ABA, ILAB, Royal Tunbridge Wells, KENT, United Kingdom
FLEMING, IAN:. Thunderball.. London, Jonathan Cape, 1961 1st edition, 1961.
Price: US$634.92 + shipping
Description: Hardback, approx 8 x 5 inches. Dark brown cloth with gilt lettering to spine, with blind stamped design to front. In illustrated dustwrapper. In very good condition with very good dustwrapper. (DW Some minor rubbing on edges, two tint closed tears, In protective sleeve. Not price clipped.) Cloth clean and bright. No penned inscriptions. Some mild foxing to page edges. Else pages very clean and bright. A very clean and tight copy. 254pp.
Seller: PROCTOR / THE ANTIQUE MAP & BOOKSHOP, DORCHESTER, United Kingdom
Fleming, Ian.. Thunderball.. Jonathan Cape, London, 1961.
Price: US$650.00 + shipping
Condition: Near Fine
Description: A Fine hardcover copy in textured black paper covered boards (with skeleton hand blindstamped on front cover), in a Near Fine unfaded dustwrapper (designed by Richard Chopping), not price-clipped. Name erased from top of front endpaper. One short closed tear to lower front spinefold. Small staining to verso of jacket (not affecting book). 254pp. Text clear and unmarked. Despite flaws, a lovely copy of the ninth Bond adventure. Moviesource. Q03444
Seller: Compass Rose Books, ABAA-ILAB, Kensington, CA, U.S.A.
Price: US$666.99 + shipping
Description: 8vo., First Edition; handsomely bound in black full morocco, back with raised bands ruled in gilt, second and fourth compartments lettered and ruled in gilt, all other compartments tooled and ruled in gilt, hand-made-made endpapers, ribbon marker, original 'skeleton hand' from upper board and backstrip gilt mounted on new and separate leaves, a most attractive copy ideal as a gift or for presentation. Bright copy of the ninth James Bond novel and the cause of the celebrated copyright dispute in which it was alleged that Fleming used the then-unfilmed screenplay as the basis for the novel. Subsequent editions include a credit to this effect. The film eventually appeared in 1965, directed by Terence Young and starring Sean Connery and Claudine Auger, with Anthony Dawson as Blofeld.
Seller: Island Books, Thakeham, West Sussex, United Kingdom
Ian Fleming. Thunderball. Jonathan Cape, 1961.
Price: US$692.64 + shipping
Condition: Fine
Description: 1st printing. DJ not price clipped, is complete, shows light use.
Seller: Strawberry Hill Books, Rotherfield, East Sussex, United Kingdom
Ian Fleming. Thunderball. Jonathan Cape, 1961.
Price: US$696.38 + shipping
Condition: Very Good
Description: First U.K. edition. The ninth "James Bond" novel. VG in VG price clipped dust wrapper showing minor wear. Mark to bottom rear of wrapper. Publisher's black cloth with embossed skeleton hand to upper board, gilt titles to spine. Covered in archival plastic.
Seller: East Avenue Books, Adelaide, SA, Australia
Fleming Ian. Thunderball. Jonathan Cape, London, 1961.
Price: US$720.00 + shipping
Condition: Very Good
Description: Nice copy in its first UK printing. Unmarked, tight and square. Hint of lean. Black cloth boards with lightly bumped tip. Price intact jacket has short tape repai on verso of spine at head. Light to moderate wear to spine ends but almost no paper loss. In mylar. Size: 8vo - over 7¾" - 9¾" tall
Seller: Timothy Norlen Bookseller, Santa Barbara, CA, U.S.A.
Ian Fleming. Thunderball. London: Jonathan Cape, 1961.
Price: US$747.90 + shipping
Condition: Near Fine
Description: 1st edition. Near fine in very good jacket. DJ is price clipped to 4 corners, chipped (minor) at corners and to spine. Book comes protected in mylar cover.
Seller: The Scribe Bookstore, ABAC, Toronto, ON, Canada
FLEMING, Ian. Thunderball. Jonathan Cape, London, 1961.
Price: US$750.00 + shipping
Condition: Very Good
Description: First edition, original black cloth with blind stamped skeletal hand on upper cover. A bit cocked, small stain on the front fly and a little on edge of the pages good or better in good unclipped first issue dust jacket with rubbing, shallow loss at the spine ends, and faint stains. James Bond shipped off to the fat farm and SPECTRE introduced. Basis for the fourth Bond film. Curiously (and much to the continued consternation of MGM/UA), the rights to this story are not tied to the rest of the James Bond franchise. Thus the *Thunderball* plot was refilmed in 1983 as *Never Say Never Again*, with Sean Connery returning to the role of 007 after a twelve year hiatus and competing in theatres with *Octopussy* (with Roger Moore as Bond). A presentable, good only copy.
Seller: Between the Covers-Rare Books, Inc. ABAA, Gloucester City, NJ, U.S.A.
FLEMING, Ian.. Thunderball.. London: Jonathan Cape, 1961, 1961.
Price: US$769.60 + shipping
Description: First edition, first impression. The ninth Bond novel and the first in the Blofeld trilogy, this book introduces the criminal organization SPECTRE and its leader, Ernst Stavro Blofeld. It was adapted into a film in 1965 starring Sean Connery. Gilbert A9a (1.1). Octavo. Original dark brown boards, spine lettered in gilt (Gilbert's binding A), skeletal hand motif stamped on front cover in blind. With dust jacket. A couple of faint marks to edges, contents clean; jacket spine toned, else bright, insect damage to spine head and flap edges, unclipped: a near-fine copy in very good jacket.
Seller: Peter Harrington. ABA/ ILAB., London, United Kingdom
FLEMING, Ian.. Thunderball. FIRST EDITION IN WRAPPER.. , 1961.
Price: US$769.60 + shipping
Description: Jonathan Cape. London. 1961. DW. First edition, first issue with skeleton hand impression to front cover. Very slight light foxing to outer edge of pages otherwise a remarkably clean and fresh copy in Richard Chopping wrapper that is very fresh and clean but has a 6cm scratch mark to rear panel, slight shelfwear to edges and a small close tear to lower joint at head of spine. NOT price-clipped.
Seller: Addyman Books, Hay-on-Wye, United Kingdom
Price: US$769.60 + shipping
Description: [Spy thriller] FIRST EDITION, Binding 'A'. Octavo (19 x 13cm), pp.254. Publisher's cloth-effect dark brown paper over boards with embossed skeleton hand design to upper board, gilt titles to spine, together with Binding 'A', in a lighter shade of covering material blocked in SILVER to the spine, without jackets. Both books free of owner names or inscriptions. 'A' is very good with some foxing to edges; 'B' is fine. A presentable pair of the sliver/gold foil variants. Most uncommon. According to Gilbert, "no priority exists. the binding lettered in silver is by far the more elusive" Gilbert, Jon: Ian Fleming The Bibliography, A9a (1.1), A9a (1.2).
Seller: Adrian Harrington Ltd, PBFA, ABA, ILAB, Royal Tunbridge Wells, KENT, United Kingdom
Fleming, Ian. Thunderball. Jonathan Cape, London, 1961.
Price: US$828.00 + shipping
Description: Nice copy of the first printing. Unmarked, tight and square. Black textured cloth with gold lettering bright and fresh on spine. Rear board has small pebble like dimples from siting on pebbles with light weight. Textblock bright and fresh. Price clipped jacket aslo bright and fresh but has same pebble imprint mentioned above but on jacket becomes more of a problem. Pebble imprint primarily to rear panel but lightly to front panel as well. Two small scratch marks on rear panel. No chips, tears soiling or creasing. In mylar. Size: 12mo - over 6¾" - 7¾" tall
Seller: Timothy Norlen Bookseller, Santa Barbara, CA, U.S.A.
FLEMING, IAN.. Thunderball. London: Jonathan Cape, 1961, 1961.
Price: US$850.00 + shipping
Description: First Edition. About fine in a price-clipped dust jacket with minor wear and tear. All books described as first editions are first printings unless otherwise noted.
Seller: Peter L. Stern & Co., Inc, Newton, MA, U.S.A.
FLEMING, Ian Lancaster (1908-1964). Thunderball. London: Jonathan Cape, 1961, 1961.
Price: US$865.80 + shipping
Description: [Spy thriller] FIRST EDITION, Binding 'A'. An association copy, formerly belonging to Sefton Delmer, a fellow intelligence agent, journalist colleague and close friend of Ian Fleming. Delmer bookplate (Valley Farm) to pastedown. Octavo (19 x 13cm), pp.254; [2], bank. Publisher's cloth-effect paper over boards with embossed skeleton hand design to upper board, gilt titles to spine, dust-wrapper illustrated by Richard Chopping, priced at 15s. A used copy with some spotting and toning, jacket worn with some browning to spine, tape ghosting to flaps and endpapers where once secured. Small closed tear to jacket spine. Housed in a custom-made clamshell box. A significant association. Provenance: Tom Sefton Delmer OBE (1904-79), journalist and wartime propagandist for P.W.E. The young reporters Delmer and Fleming met in Moscow in the 'thirties and they would soon work closely together in Naval Intelligence. After the war, they took similar career paths, with Delmer becoming Chief Foreign Affairs Correspondent for the Daily Express and Fleming joining The Sunday Times as their Foreign Manager. In a typed statement, Sefton Delmer records "He [Fleming] was the godfather of my son. 'Call him Felix' he had said, 'there are too many Felix's in this world'. And he followed his own advice by creating an American partner for James Bond called Felix Leiter" [source: Ian Fleming Bibliographical Archive]. This copy was originally sold with all Delmer's copies of the Bond novels [Bonhams, London, 2009], purchased by bibliographer Jon Gilbert for his Fleming Archive, where this copy has remained since. Gilbert A9a (1.1).
Seller: Adrian Harrington Ltd, PBFA, ABA, ILAB, Royal Tunbridge Wells, KENT, United Kingdom
Ian Fleming. Thunderball - UK 1st. Jonathan Cape, 1961.
Price: US$865.80 + shipping
Condition: Near Fine
Description: First edition first impression from 1961 in near fine condition, there is a small stain to the top of the last three endpages (including the last page of text) which has also affected the inside of the jacket. no other markings, pages clean, binding firm. jacket in removable protective sleeve.
Seller: Setanta Books, Richmond, SURRE, United Kingdom
FLEMING, Ian Lancaster (1908-1964). Thunderball. London: Jonathan Cape, 1961, 1961.
Price: US$891.46 + shipping
Description: [Spy thriller] FIRST EDITION, Binding 'A'. Octavo (19 x 13cm), pp.254. Publisher's cloth-effect paper over boards with embossed skeleton hand design to upper board, gilt titles to spine. In dust-wrapper illustrated by Richard Chopping priced at 15s. No inscriptions. Jacket is clean and bright with some apparently unnecessary archive tape to reverse side, faint pencil impressions and some light foxing to rear flap. Shows rather well. 'Thunderball' is one of the most pivotal works of the series. It was in 'Thunderball' that Fleming first introduced the world to the ultimate Bond villian, Ernest Stavro Blofeld. Though Bond and Blofeld never actually meet here, it is in this book that Bond first battles the schemes of SPECTRE, Blofeld's criminal organisation. It is the first part of the so-called 'Blofeld' trilogy, and was followed by 'On Her Majesty's Secret Service' (1963) and 'You Only Live Twice' (1964). Gilbert, Jon: Ian Fleming The Bibliography, A9a (1.1).
Seller: Adrian Harrington Ltd, PBFA, ABA, ILAB, Royal Tunbridge Wells, KENT, United Kingdom
FLEMING, Ian. Thunderball. London: Jonathan Cape, 1961.
Price: US$897.87 + shipping
Condition: Near Fine
Description: First edition, first impression. Octavo. Bound in brown cloth covered hard boards with gilt lettering to the spine and blind-stamped skeleton hand to the upper board. In the original dust jacket which is unclipped (15s. net). The book and jacket are both in Near Fine or better condition. Book has some tiny brown spots to the top edge, jacket has a very small area of wear to the bottom of the spine at the joint of the lower panel. A very pretty copy with no tanning to the spine.
Seller: Picture This (ABA, ILAB, IVPDA), Sunningdale, United Kingdom
Ian Fleming. Thunderball - UK 1st. Jonathan Cape, 1961.
Price: US$897.87 + shipping
Condition: Near Fine
Description: First edition, first impression in near fine condition. No internal markings, pages clean, binding firm. The jacket has benefitted from some minor professional restoration to the top of the spine. Please see pictures. Any questions please get in touch. PayPal accepted.
Seller: Setanta Books, Richmond, SURRE, United Kingdom
Ian Fleming. Thunderball. Jonathan Cape Ltd., London, 1961.
Price: US$911.92 + shipping
Condition: Very Good
Description: First edition: octavo; hardcover, with gilt spine titles and a blind-stamped upper board decoration; 254pp. Mild wear; spine extremities very slightly softened; text block edges lightly spotted and top edge mildly dusted; light offset to the endpapers; retailer's ink stamp to the front pastedown. Price-clipped dustwrapper is well rubbed; very light offset to the verso; light sunning to the spine panel and flap-turns; now professionally protected by non-adhesive polypropylene wrap. Very good.
Seller: Morocco Books and Collectibles, Wentworth Falls, NSW, Australia
Ian Fleming. Thunderball. London: Jonathan Cape, 1961.
Price: US$961.36 + shipping
Condition: As New
Description: First Edition, First Printing. A near fine copy in a near fine dustwrapper which is darkened on the spine as usual. Book and dustwrapper are completely original, never ever having been touched by any restorer.
Seller: Yves G. Rittener - YGRbookS, Zürich, Switzerland
FLEMING, Ian Lancaster (1908-1964). Thunderball. London: Jonathan Cape, 1961, 1961.
Price: US$962.00 + shipping
Description: [Spy thriller] FIRST EDITION, Binding 'A', British export/colonial copy. Octavo (19 x 13cm), pp.254; [2], bank. Publisher's cloth-effect paper over boards with embossed skeleton hand design to upper board, gilt titles to spine, dust-wrapper illustrated by Richard Chopping. Contents clean, edges gently toned/spotted commensurate with the climate, contemporary name and place [India, 1963] to flyleaf, jacket lightly handled. This copy was exported and sold by Oxford Book Company, Calcutta (with their stamp to r.e.p.), price clipped accordingly. Very good. UK Cape editions of Fleming's bestselling James Bond series were imported by British overseas territories across the globe [Gilbert], as demonstrated by the present copy. Founded in 1919, Oxford Book Co. is one of the most prestigious booksellers in the country, and is India's only bookstore to curate multiple literary festivals and cultural events. Gilbert, Jon: Ian Fleming The Bibliography, A9a (1.1).
Seller: Adrian Harrington Ltd, PBFA, ABA, ILAB, Royal Tunbridge Wells, KENT, United Kingdom
FLEMING, Ian Lancaster (1908-1964). Thunderball. London: Jonathan Cape, 1961, 1961.
Price: US$962.00 + shipping
Description: [Spy thriller] FIRST EDITION, Binding 'A'. Octavo (19 x 13cm), pp.254; [2], bank. Publisher's cloth-effect paper over boards with embossed skeleton hand design to upper board, gilt titles to spine, dust-wrapper illustrated by Richard Chopping. No inscriptions, a few minor marks to edges. Price-clipped jacket would be fine but for some gentle toning to the pine. A bright copy. Gilbert, Jon: Ian Fleming The Bibliography, A9a (1.1).
Seller: Adrian Harrington Ltd, PBFA, ABA, ILAB, Royal Tunbridge Wells, KENT, United Kingdom
IAN FLEMING. THUNDERBALL. JONATHAN CAPE, 1961.
Price: US$995.00 + shipping
Condition: Near Fine
Description: First Edition, First PrintingA lovely near fine example of this title, with a bright crisp clean book and a near fine unclipped dust jacket. Crisp black covered boards with a stamped skeleton hand to the front of the boards. Bright unfaded gilt titles to spine. The book is in beautiful near fine condition with clean boards, sharp corners, and no edgewear. The binding is tight and square. The end papers are clean with no owner names, no bookstore stamps, no inscriptions, and no foxing. The internal pages are crisp, clean, bright and flat with a few spots of very pale discolorations, otherwise No stains, No writing, No bent pages, No age toning and No foxing. Beautiful stunning crisp, bright copy. Please see images for details. The original dust jacket is in near fine stunning condition. The dust jacket has Strong Vibrant colors with bright inner flaps, still maintaining the blue green tones without the common fading or discolorations. The jacket has No tears, No edgewear, No chips, No stains, No rips, No fading, No rubbing, and No foxing. The dust jacket is NOT price clipped and has a stated price of 15s net. Please see images for more details. A very handsome example of this title, presenting very well on the shelf. ADDITIONAL IMAGES AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST. PLEASE SEE OUR ABE STORE FOR MORE IAN FLEMING TITLES.
Seller: Meier And Sons Rare Books, New Canaan, CT, U.S.A.
Fleming, Ian. THUNDERBALL. Jonathan Cape [1961], London, 1961.
Price: US$1000.00 + shipping
Description: Octavo, original black boards, front stamped in blind, spine stamped in gold. A James Bond novel. Source for several feature films. Hubin, p. 288. Smith and White: Cloak and Dagger Fiction (3rd ed.) 1889. Former owner's name and date in ink to upper corner of front free end paper, small ownership label affixed to front paste down, light foxing to top page edges, some staining to fore edge, a nearly fine copy in a just about fine dust jacket with a new publisher price label affixed over the printed price of 15s at the lower front flap corner, touch of rubbing to base of spine panel and lower right front corner. (27266)
Seller: John W. Knott, Jr, Bookseller, ABAA/ILAB, Laurel, MD, U.S.A.
Fleming (Ian). Thunderball.. Jonathan Cape, 1961.
Price: US$1026.14 + shipping
Description: FIRST EDITION, pp. 254, foolscap 8vo, original black boards with image of a skeletal hand blind-stamped to upper board, backstrip lettered in gilt, top edge a little dusty and very faintly spotted, dustjacket price-clipped, very good. A lovely copy. (Gilbert A9)
Seller: Blackwell's Rare Books ABA ILAB BA, Oxford, United Kingdom
FLEMING, Ian. THUNDERBALL. Jonathan Cape, 1961.
Price: US$1026.14 + shipping
Description: First Edition, Binding 'A'. A near fine copy in a very good plus unclipped dust jacket. Embossed skeleton hand design to front board. A clean collectable copy with no internal markings or inscriptions. The dust jacket has a little rubbing and toning, with minor wear to extremities.
Seller: Surrey Hills Books, Cranleigh, United Kingdom
FLEMING, IAN.. THUNDERBALL.. Jonathan Cape, [1961]., London, 1961.
Price: US$1050.00 + shipping
Description: First edition. First issue binding. 8vo. Fine in a fine dust jacket. Basis for the film of the same name that starred Sean Connery as Agent 007 and Claudine Auger as Bond Girl Dominique "Domino" Derval. In 1966 THUNDERBALL won the Oscar for "Best Effects, Special Visual Effects." An exceptional copy.
Seller: BUCKINGHAM BOOKS, ABAA, ILAB, IOBA, GREENCASTLE, PA, U.S.A.
FLEMING, Ian.. Thunderball.. London: Jonathan Cape, 1961, 1961.
Price: US$1058.21 + shipping
Description: First edition, first impression. The ninth Bond novel and the first in the Blofeld trilogy, this book introduces the criminal organization SPECTRE and its leader, Ernst Stavro Blofeld. It was adapted into a film in 1965 starring Sean Connery. Gilbert A9a (1.1). Octavo. Original dark brown boards, spine lettered in gilt (Gilbert's binding A), skeletal hand motif stamped on front cover in blind. With dust jacket. Spine ends bumped, foot rubbed, a few marks to top edge; edges of jacket a little rubbed and nicked, tiny chip at head of front fold, small damp stains on verso, unclipped: a near-fine copy in very good jacket.
Seller: Peter Harrington. ABA/ ILAB., London, United Kingdom
Ian Fleming. THUNDERBALL. Jonathan Cape, 1961.
Price: US$1090.27 + shipping
Condition: Very Good
Description: !st edition second issue hardback with dust wrapper both in VG+ condition.Scarce publisher's 16/- price sticker on inside flap of d/w. No inscription or name. Images available.Faint foxing on page fore edge
Seller: September Books, CHURCH STRETTON, United Kingdom
FLEMING, Ian.. Thunderball.. Jonathan Cape, London., 1961.
Price: US$1090.27 + shipping
Description: First edition. Octavo. 254 pages.Tail of spine a little pushed. Near fine in very good dustwrapper, designed by Richard Chopping, slightly rubbed at the edges.
Seller: Peter Ellis, Bookseller, ABA, ILAB, London, United Kingdom
IAN FLEMING. THUNDERBALL. JONATHAN CAPE, LONDON, 1961.
Price: US$1147.99 + shipping
Condition: Near Fine
Description: FIRST PRINTING. HARDBACK IN THE ORIGINAL BLACK CLOTH BINDING WITH IMPRESSED HAND DESIGN TO FRONT BOARD, ORIGINAL UNPRICE CLIPPED DUST JACKET, HALF TITLE PRESENT. BOOK MEASURES APPROX 8 x 5 INCHES WITH 254 PAGES. SOME VERY MINOR EDGE WEAR TO JACKET WITH A COUPLE OF VERY SMALL MINOR ABRASIONS TO FRONT OF JACKET, ONE CORNER BUMPED TO CLOTH FRONT BOARD BUT OVERALL THIS IS AN EXCELLENT NEAR FINE COPY WITH PAGES CLEAN, NO INSCRIPTIONS & COLOURS TO JACKET EVEN & BRIGHT. PLEASE NOTE THAT THE JACKET HAS SOME REFLECTIONS PRESENT IN IMAGES FROM THE CLEAR REMOVABLE COVERING. EXTRA POSTAGE MAY APPLY TO OVERSEAS ORDERS. ALL BOOKS POSTED IN STURDY BOOK BOX.
Seller: Elder Books, Ross on Wye, Herefordshire, United Kingdom
Fleming, Ian. Thunderball. London Jonathan Cape 1961, 1961.
Price: US$1186.47 + shipping
Description: First edition, first printing. Published by Jonathan Cape, London, in 1961. This is a very near fine copy. The dust wrapper has some very slight rubbing at the edges, some very sparse, small spots of browning throughout and has been neatly price clipped, but the original 15s. net price remains. The boards are finely gilt at the spine in gold lettering and the skeletal hand is finely embossed in black to the front panel. The text blocks are generally bright, clean and white throughout. There is one previous owner's inscription to the front fly leaf in black ink, dated to the year of publication. This is a very near fine copy. The first title in the Blofield trilogy.
Seller: John Atkinson Books ABA ILAB PBFA, Harrogate, United Kingdom
Fleming, Ian. Thunderball. Jonathan Cape, London, 1961.
Price: US$1200.00 + shipping
Condition: Very Good
Description: First edition first printing of the ninth James Bond thriller. Light edge wear. There is a 1/4 inch tear to the base of the dustjacket's spine and the head of the spine has been slightly bumped. In very good / very good condition. BRColl Language: eng 0.0
Seller: Scene of the Crime, ABAC, IOBA, St. Catharines, ON, Canada
Fleming, Ian. Thunderball.. Jonathan Cape, London, 1961.
Price: US$1200.00 + shipping
Description: First edition of the ninth novel in Ian Flemingâs James Bond series. Octavo, original black cloth. Near fine in a near fine price-clipped dust jacket. Jacket art by Richard Chopping. A very sharp example. "Thunderball represented a new departure [for the Bond series], with the introduction of SPECTRE and of Ernst Blofeld, a commanding villain who was to reappear. This gave a measure of continuity to the later Bond novels Thunderball worked well as an adventure story the theme of the theft of atom bombs seemed pertinent and modern" (Black, 49, 55). "A thriller, a chiller and a pleasure to read" (New York Times). It was adapted twice to the screen: under the present title in 1965 and as Never Say Never Again in 1983each time starring Sean Connery.
Seller: Raptis Rare Books, Palm Beach, FL, U.S.A.
Ian Fleming. Thunderball. Jonathan Cape, London, 1961.
Price: US$1200.03 + shipping
Condition: Near Fine
Description: Near fine first edition of the 9th Bond novel in very good jacket. The novel that introduced SPECTRE and the deliciously evil Ernst Stavro Blofeld to the world. Also the basis for a subsequent lawsuit that resulted in credit eventually being given as "Based on a screen treatment by Kevin McClory, Jack Whittingham and Ian Fleming". The book is clean, square, tight, and internally unmarked. The jacket is very good, though it has been price clipped and, unfortunately, has a small piece of tape to both the top and the bottom of the spine on the inside. Still, a very nice copy of a rip-roaring thriller.Gilbert: First impression, Binding A.
Seller: Sellers & Newel Second-Hand Books , Toronto, ON, Canada
Fleming, Ian. Thunderball. Jonathan Cape; London, 1961.
Price: US$1250.00 + shipping
Condition: Near Fine
Description: A near fine copy in a near fine dust jacket. First published 1961 stated on the copyright page. First Edition. A nice, tight, square copy. Slight edge wear to the boards and very slight soiling on the page edges. Flap price £15s. Back flap shows some soiling and fading along edges. Comes housed in a custom slipcase.
Seller: Bookbid, Beverly Hills, CA, U.S.A.
FLEMING, Ian Lancaster (1908-1964). Thunderball. London: Jonathan Cape, 1961, 1961.
Price: US$1250.61 + shipping
Description: [Spy thriller] FIRST EDITION, Binding 'A'. Octavo (19 x 13cm), pp.254. Publisher's cloth-effect paper over boards with embossed skeleton hand design to upper board, gilt titles to spine. In dust-wrapper illustrated by Richard Chopping. No inscriptions. Edges a little dusty. Jacket is clean and bright with a couple of neat, short tears to rear panel, price clipped. An attractive copy, housed in a bespoke black cloth clamshell with warhead motif. 'Thunderball' is one of the most pivotal works of the series. It was in 'Thunderball' that Fleming first introduced the world to the ultimate Bond villian, Ernest Stavro Blofeld. Though Bond and Blofeld never actually meet here, it is in this book that Bond first battles the schemes of SPECTRE, Blofeld's criminal organisation. It is the first part of the so-called 'Blofeld' trilogy, and was followed by 'On Her Majesty's Secret Service' (1963) and 'You Only Live Twice' (1964). Gilbert, Jon: Ian Fleming The Bibliography, A9a (1.1).
Seller: Adrian Harrington Ltd, PBFA, ABA, ILAB, Royal Tunbridge Wells, KENT, United Kingdom
Ian Fleming. Thunderball. Jonathan Cape, London, 1961.
Price: US$1250.61 + shipping
Condition: Fine
Description: A fine first edition, first impression, of this thrilling James Bond novel by Ian Fleming, in the original illustrated dustwrapper. The first edition, first impression of this work, in binding type A with brown/grey boards and a skeleton hand embossed to the front board.In the original unclipped dustwrapper.Ian Fleming's ninth James Bond novel, centering round the theft of two atomic bombs by the crime syndicate SPECTRE. This novel introduces Ernst Stavro Blofeld as a villain, though Bond and Blofeld never meet in 'Thunderball'.This novel was made into a film in 1965 with Sean Connery as Bond. In the original publisher's cloth binding, in the original unclipped dustwrapper. Externally, fine, with very light buming to the spine. Dustwrapper is lightly edge worn with some small closed tears and chips. Light marks to the wraps, including a faint tide mark to the front wrap. Internally, firmly bound. Pages are bright and clean. Fine
Seller: Rooke Books PBFA, Bath, United Kingdom
Ian Fleming. Thunderball. Jonathan Cape, UK, 1961.
Price: US$1282.67 + shipping
Condition: Fine
Description: Thunderball by Ian Fleming First Edition Jonathan Cape 1961. A fine book that appears unread and as new. Pages and edges still white and free of any ownership inscriptions. No foxing, unblemished throughout. No bumping to corners and covers unmarked. In like original fine dust jacket. Not price clipped and with no darkening to spine. An excellent copy. "Thunderball" is the ninth novel in Ian Fleming's James Bond series, first published in 1961. In this thrilling installment, James Bond is tasked with recovering two stolen nuclear warheads before they can be used to wreak havoc on the world. The story begins with the disappearance of a British Vulcan bomber carrying two nuclear bombs. Bond is assigned to investigate and discovers that the warheads are in the possession of SPECTRE, a global criminal organization led by the formidable Ernst Stavro Blofeld. Bond teams up with the beautiful Dominetta "Domino" Vitali and his CIA counterpart, Felix Leiter, as they track down the stolen warheads in the Bahamas and confront SPECTRE's evil plans. "Thunderball" is notable for its underwater action sequences and its introduction of the character Emilio Largo, SPECTRE's ruthless agent. It explores themes of nuclear terrorism, espionage, and the high-stakes world of international intrigue. The novel was later adapted into a successful film of the same name in the James Bond movie franchise.
Seller: Brought to Book Ltd, London, United Kingdom
Fleming Ian. THUNDERBALL. London Jonathan Cape 1961, 1961.
Price: US$1375.00 + shipping
Description: First edition. 8vo, publishers original black cloth lettered in gilt on the spine, in the pictorial dustjacket. 254 pp. A very handsome and clean copy in a complete and only very lightly mellowed dustjacket. FIRST EDITION. Flemings books have had a staying power that few thriller-writers can match, perhaps because Bond is such an intriguing and morally ambiguous hero. Some admire him as a suave, supremely competent man of action who always gets the girl; others decry him a superficial playboy with a streak of sadism. According to Fleming, "Bond is not a hero, nor is he depicted as being very likeable or admirable. He is a Secret Service agent. Hes not a bad man, but he is ruthless and self-indulgent. He enjoys the fight--he also enjoys the prizes. In fiction, people used to have blood in their veins. Nowadays they have pond water." The ninth James Bond thriller finds the high-living superspy guzzling carrot juice in a recovery clinic until the shadowy SPECTRE forces him back into action. But who is SPECTRE, and what are its nefarious plans?
Seller: Buddenbrooks, Inc., Newburyport, MA, U.S.A.
Fleming, Ian. Thunderball. Jonathan Cape, 1961.
Price: US$1500.00 + shipping
Condition: Near Fine
Description: First edition, First Published 1961 stated on copyright page. Book near fine. Dust jacket very good.
Seller: Bookbid, Beverly Hills, CA, U.S.A.
FLEMING, Ian Lancaster (1908-1964). Thunderball. London: Jonathan Cape, 1961, 1961.
Price: US$1539.21 + shipping
Description: [Spy thriller] FIRST EDITION, Binding 'A'. Octavo (19 x 13cm), pp.254. Publisher's cloth-effect paper over boards with embossed skeleton hand design to upper board, gilt titles to spine. In dust-wrapper illustrated by Richard Chopping. A near fine copy in similar wrapper with one area of browning to foot of spine, price-clipped. 'Thunderball' is one of the most pivotal works of the series. It was in 'Thunderball' that Fleming first introduced the world to the ultimate Bond villian, Ernest Stavro Blofeld. Though Bond and Blofeld never actually meet here, it is in this book that Bond first battles the schemes of SPECTRE, Blofeld's criminal organisation. It is the first part of the so-called 'Blofeld' trilogy, and was followed by 'On Her Majesty's Secret Service' (1963) and 'You Only Live Twice' (1964). Gilbert, Jon: Ian Fleming The Bibliography, A9a (1.1).
Seller: Adrian Harrington Ltd, PBFA, ABA, ILAB, Royal Tunbridge Wells, KENT, United Kingdom
IAN FLEMING. THUNDERBALL. Jonathan Cape, London, 1961.
Price: US$1695.00 + shipping
Condition: Fine
Description: First Edition, First PrintingA lovely fine example of this title, with a bright crisp clean book and a fine/near fine unclipped dust jacket. Crisp black covered boards with a stamped skeleton hand to the front of the boards. Bright unfaded gilt titles to spine. The book is in beautiful fine condition with clean boards, sharp corners, and no edgewear. The binding is tight and square. The end papers are clean with no owner names, no bookstore stamps, no inscriptions, and no foxing. The internal pages are crisp, clean, bright and flat with No stains, No writing, No bent pages, No age toning and No foxing. Beautiful stunning crisp, bright, clean copy, appearing as unread! Please see images for details. The original dust jacket is in fine stunning condition having benefited from a slight touch of restoration to a dime size spot by an expert paper conservator. The dust jacket has Strong Vibrant colors with bright inner flaps, still maintaining the blue green tones without the common fading or discolorations. The jacket has No tears, No edgewear, No chips, No stains, No rips, No fading, No rubbing, and No foxing. The dust jacket is NOT price clipped and has a stated price of 15s net with ghosting from a possible sticker that was removed. Please see images for more details. A very handsome example of this title, presenting very well on the shelf. ADDITIONAL IMAGES AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST. Please see our ABE store for more James Bond/Ian Fleming titles.
Seller: Meier And Sons Rare Books, New Canaan, CT, U.S.A.
Fleming, Ian. Thunderball. Jonathan Cape; London, 1961.
Price: US$1900.00 + shipping
Condition: Near Fine
Description: Near fine in a near fine dust jacket. First Published 1961 stated on the copyright page with no mention of later printings; First Edition. Book has slight edge wear and very minor foxing on page ends; near fine. The dust jacket has the original price of 15s. net printed on the front flap. Very minor rubbing at the corners and spine ends. Comes housed in a custom made slipcase.
Seller: Bookbid, Beverly Hills, CA, U.S.A.
Ian Fleming. Thunderball. Jonathan Cape, London, 1961.
Price: US$1950.00 + shipping
Condition: Fine
Description: Fine in a fine dustjacket. Book is clean and unmarked throughout. Jacket is price clipped and does show very minor edgewear mainly at the points of the boards and base of the spine. Colours are bright and fresh with no signs of fading. Basis for the great movie of the same name starring Sean Connery. A rare find in collectible condition.
Seller: BDC Books, Stratford, ON, Canada
FLEMING, Ian Lancaster (1908-1964). Thunderball. London: Jonathan Cape, 1961, 1961.
Price: US$2116.41 + shipping
Description: [Spy thriller] FIRST EDITION, Binding 'A'. Brigadier Fitzroy Maclean's copy, with SIGNED notepaper and printed label loosely inserted. Octavo (19 x 13cm), pp.254; [2], bank. Publisher's cloth-effect paper over boards with embossed skeleton hand design to upper board, gilt titles to spine, dust-wrapper illustrated by Richard Chopping, priced at 15s., housed in a custom-made clamshell box. Some moderate wear and handling; jacket with a few chips and tears. Very good. 'House of Commons' headed paper is in near fine condition (Maclean served as a minister in the War Office around this time). A significant association. Provenance: Sir Fitzroy Maclean (1911-96), former Etonian diplomat, S.A.S. Commando, adventurer and travel writer encouraged by Peter Fleming; liaised with Ian Fleming during the Moscow spy trials in the 1930s, served in Soviet Central Asia, the Western Desert Campaign, and at Churchill's personal request, behind enemy lines with Tito's partisans in Yugoslavia. Maclean was often labelled a model for James Bond, with Ian Fleming noting that 007 was "a compound of all the secret agents and commando types that I met during the war" (Bond Bound, p.26). Maclean, Peter and Ian Fleming were reunited at literary events, each being published by Jonathan Cape. Originally sold with all Maclean's copies of the Bond novels [Lyon & Turnbull, Edinburgh, 2008], purchased by bibliographer Jon Gilbert for his Fleming Archive, where this copy has remained since. Gilbert A9a (1.1).
Seller: Adrian Harrington Ltd, PBFA, ABA, ILAB, Royal Tunbridge Wells, KENT, United Kingdom
Fleming, Ian. Thunderball - 1st Edition/1st Printing. Jonathan Cape, London, 1961.
Price: US$2340.00 + shipping
Condition: Fine
Description: A beautiful first printing of the first edition in Fine condition in alike dust-jacket with 16s 6d price-sticker. Scarce in collectible condition; In the novel Thunderball, Ian Fleming first introduces the world to perhaps the ultimate Bond villain -- Ernest Stavro Blofeld. Though Bond and Blofeld never actually meet, it is in this book that Bond first battles the schemes of SPECTRE, Blofeld's criminal organization. (in the movie adaptations, SPECTRE is being introduced in Dr. No and Blofeld in From Russia With Love. ) Basis for the James Bond movie starring Sean Connery, and Claudine Auger as Bond girl Dominique "Domino" Derval and Martine Beswick playing Paula Caplan; 8vo ; 253, [3] pages
Seller: Books Tell You Why - ABAA/ILAB, Summerville, SC, U.S.A.
Ian Fleming. Thunderball. Jonathan Cape, London, 1961.
Price: US$2344.00 + shipping
Condition: As New
Description: First edition, first printing. Jonathan Cape, London 1961 (Gilbert A9a 1.1 First Edition, First Impression, Binding A). 'Thunderball' is the ninth James Bond novel and the first novel oft the 'Blofeld Trilogy' introduces the crime syndicate 'Spectre' and the leader Ernst Stavro Blofeld. Of all James Bond adversaries, the chief of 'Spectre'casts the darkest shadow. Book is fine. Publisher's black cloth with embossed skeleton hand design to upper board, gilt titles tospine. Binding is tight and square, corners are sharp, bright lettering to spine. Topedge of text block is a little dusty. Dustwrapper is fine. Unclipped with 15s original price and miniscule wear to the edges and slight tanning to the spine and the top edges of the jacket flaps. DW is now protected with a new transparent Adaptaroll sleeve. Collector's choice.
Seller: Nik's Bookstore Versandantiquariat, PBFA, Oestrich-Winkel, Germany
Fleming, Ian. Thunderball.. Jonathan Cape, London, 1961.
Price: US$2500.00 + shipping
Description: First edition of the ninth novel in Ian Flemingâs James Bond series. Octavo, original black cloth. Fine in a near fine dust jacket. Jacket art by Richard Chopping. A very sharp example. "Thunderball represented a new departure [for the Bond series], with the introduction of SPECTRE and of Ernst Blofeld, a commanding villain who was to reappear. This gave a measure of continuity to the later Bond novels Thunderball worked well as an adventure story the theme of the theft of atom bombs seemed pertinent and modern" (Black, 49, 55). "A thriller, a chiller and a pleasure to read" (New York Times). It was adapted twice to the screen: under the present title in 1965 and as Never Say Never Again in 1983each time starring Sean Connery.
Seller: Raptis Rare Books, Palm Beach, FL, U.S.A.
Fleming, Ian. Thunderball. Jonathan Cape, 1961.
Price: US$2500.00 + shipping
Condition: Near Fine
Description: First edition, as stated on copyright page. Book near fine, very minor foxing to top and foredge and paste-downs, lower corners very slightly bumped. Dust jacket very good, some minor wear, small tear to top of rear hinge to spine.
Seller: Bookbid, Beverly Hills, CA, U.S.A.
Fleming, Ian. Thunderball. Jonathan Cape, 1961.
Price: US$2500.00 + shipping
Condition: Fine
Description: First Edition, First Printing with "First Published 1961" printed on the copyright page. A beautiful dustjacket that is rich in color with NO fading, chips or tears. This original First Issue dustjacket has the printed price of 15s net present on the front flap with slight wear to the spine. The book is in great shape. The binding is tight, with slight wear to the boards. The pages are clean with NO writing, marks or bookplates in the book. Overall, a wonderful copy in collector's condition.
Seller: Magnum Opus Rare Books, Missoula, MT, U.S.A.
Fleming, Ian. Thunderball - 1st Edition, 1st Impression, Binding A. Jonathan Cape, London, 1961.
Price: US$2510.00 + shipping
Condition: Fine
Description: An attractive first impression of the first edition in about fine condition, only minor traces of use in lightly edge rubbed dust wrapper with 15s original price. Gilbert A9a.1.1, binding A with backstrip lettered in gilt. Scarce in collectible condition; In the novel Thunderball, Ian Fleming first introduced the world to perhaps the ultimate Bond villain -- Ernest Stavro Blofeld. Though Bond and Blofeld never actually meet, it is in this book that Bond first battles the schemes of SPECTRE, Blofeld's criminal organization. (in the movie adaptations, SPECTRE is being introduced in Dr. No and Blofeld in From Russia With Love. ) Basis for the James Bond movie starring Sean Connery, and Claudine Auger as Bond girl Dominique "Domino" Derval and Martine Beswick playing Paula Caplan; 8vo ; 253, [3] pages
Seller: Books Tell You Why - ABAA/ILAB, Summerville, SC, U.S.A.
Fleming, Ian. Thunderball. Jonathan Cape, London, 1961.
Price: US$3000.00 + shipping
Condition: Fine
Description: First Edition, First Printing. A magnificent dustjacket that is vibrant in color with no chips or tears. This original First Issue dustjacket has the price present on the front flap with only a hint of wear to the edges. The book is in excellent condition. The binding is tight, and the boards are crisp with slight wear to the edges. The pages are exceptionally clean with no writing, marks or bookplates in the book. Overall, a stunning copy seldom seen in this nice condition. We buy Fleming First Editions.
Seller: Magnum Opus Rare Books, Missoula, MT, U.S.A.
FLEMING Ian. Thunderball. BINDING 'A' IN UNCLIPPED DUSTWRAPPER. Jonathan Cape, [1961], 1961.
Price: US$3142.55 + shipping
Description: 8vo., First Edition; brown cloth, upper board blocked with skeletal hand in blind, gilt back, top almost imperceptibly speckled, a near fine copy in unclipped dustwrapper, the latter with one tony nick at lower corner of front panel. With striking dustwrapper artwork by Richard Chopping. Crisp copy of the ninth Bond novel, the first of the Blofeld trilogy and the first to feature SPECTRE. Dustwrapper correctly priced at 15s. Gilbert A9a.1.1, binding A with backstrip lettered in gilt; Hubin, p.288.
Seller: Island Books, Thakeham, West Sussex, United Kingdom
Price: US$3206.68 + shipping
Description: [Thriller] UNCORRECTED PROOF COPY of the first edition. Octavo (19 x 13cm), pp.254. Publisher's lime green softcovers with 'greek urn' device repeated in white, titles printed in black. Contents clean, reader's name to first blank, in address (Hastings, East Sussex) to rear panel, covers rubbed at joints, and extremities, spine is toned with some wear, small chip at crown, some soiling to upper. Remains a very good copy of a rare Fleming proof. Housed in a custom-made protective box. Gilbert A9a, p.267.
Seller: Adrian Harrington Ltd, PBFA, ABA, ILAB, Royal Tunbridge Wells, KENT, United Kingdom
Fleming, Ian. Thunderball. Jonathan Cape, London, 1961.
Price: US$3500.00 + shipping
Condition: Near Fine
Description: First UK edition, first published 1961 stated on copyright page. Book near fine, front corners very slightly bumped, bookplate attached to front paste-down, very minor foxing to end papers, small spot at bottom corner from page 247 to rear end papers. Dust jacket near fine, very minor rubbing.
Seller: Bookbid, Beverly Hills, CA, U.S.A.
Ian Fleming. Thunderball. Jonathan Cape, London, 1961.
Price: US$3783.89 + shipping
Condition: Fine
Description: HARDBACK - A very fine book, free of any owner names or inscriptions, in a very fine dust wrapper. Correctly priced at 15s.net. A sublime copy.
Seller: West Hull Rare Books - P.B.F.A., Hull, YORKS, United Kingdom
Ian Fleming. Thunderball. Jonathan Cape, 1961.
Price: US$4000.00 + shipping
Condition: Very Good
Description: Published in 1961 in London by Jonathan Cape. First edition, first impression. Book in Fine condition, black cloth and bright golden gilded title on spine plus embossed skeleton hand on front board, clean pages. Dustjacket in Fine condition with original 15s net on front flap of dustwrapper, and absolutely no sun darkening to the spine. $4,000
Seller: E. B. Books, Vancouver, BC, Canada
Fleming, Ian. Thunderball. Jonathan Cape, London, 1961.
Price: US$4000.00 + shipping
Condition: Fine
Description: Clipped DJ in archival cover. Stated first published 1958 with no other printings listed.
Seller: J. Mercurio Books, Maps, & Prints IOBA, Garrison, NY, U.S.A.
Fleming, Ian. Thunderball. Jonathan Cape, London, 1961.
Price: US$4500.00 + shipping
Condition: Fine
Description: Stated first published. Clipped DJ in archival cover.
Seller: J. Mercurio Books, Maps, & Prints IOBA, Garrison, NY, U.S.A.
FLEMING, Ian Lancaster (1908-1964). Thunderball. London: Jonathan Cape, 1961, 1961.
Price: US$4810.02 + shipping
Description: [Spy thriller] FIRST EDITION, Binding 'A', SIGNED BY THE ARTIST. Octavo (19 x 13cm), pp.254; [2], bank. Publisher's cloth-effect paper over boards with embossed skeleton hand design to upper board, gilt titles to spine, dust-wrapper illustrated by Richard Chopping priced at 15s, autographed in blue ink above his printed credit on jacket flap. A clean, fine copy of the book in a near fine, lightly handled jacket with a couple of neat, short tears. Richard Wasey Chopping (1917-2008), was a British illustrator and author, painting in the trompe l'oeil style to create a realistic and almost three dimensional appearance. Among his illustrations are nine iconic covers for the James Bond books by Ian Fleming, published between 1957 and 1966, and the cover of John Gardner's first Bond continuation novel, Licence Renewed (1981). 'Dickie' Chopping was born in Colchester, Essex and educated at Gresham's School, Holt. He lived in the historic village of Wivenhoe for over sixty years, founding an artist community which counted Francis Bacon as a member. Gilbert, Jon: Ian Fleming The Bibliography, A9a (1.1).
Seller: Adrian Harrington Ltd, PBFA, ABA, ILAB, Royal Tunbridge Wells, KENT, United Kingdom
Ian Fleming. Thunderball, uncorrected proof,. Jonathan Cape, 1961.
Price: US$5000.00 + shipping
Condition: Good
Description: Fleming (Ian). Thunderball, uncorrected proof, 1961, a few upper corners creased towards end, previous owner signature to front wra pper verso, original wrappers (slight lean), dust jacket, front flap split along fold, spine ends and panel edges with a few chips and small tears (loss of letter 'I' of 'Ian' at head of spine), light stain to rear panel, 8vo. Rare, as only 500 were printed.
Seller: Neverland Books, waalre, Netherlands
Price: US$8337.38 + shipping
Condition: Near Fine
Description: HARDBACKS - THE BLOFELD TRILOGY - Each of the three books are in near fine condition, free of any previous owner names or inscriptions. You Only Live Twice is the first edition, second state, with March 1964 present to the copyrite page. The Thomas Blofeld book plates are found to the front pastedowns of each of the three titles. Thomas Blofeld was a close friend of Ian Fleming, both attending Eton school in the 1920's. Ian Fleming used Thomas Blofeld's surname for the iconic villian, Ernst Stavro Blofeld in the James Bond novels, Thunderball, OHMSS and You Only Live Twice. Also known as the Blofeld trilogy. The dust wrapper's are also in near fine condition, all free of any price clipping, with no loss present in any of the three wrapper's. There is a little fading to the spine of the OHMSS dust wrapper, but overall, the dust wrappers and books are in excellent condition.
Seller: West Hull Rare Books - P.B.F.A., Hull, YORKS, United Kingdom
FLEMING, IAN.. Thunderball. London: Jonathan Cape, 1961, 1961.
Price: US$17500.00 + shipping
Description: First Edition. Near fine in dust jacket. Presentation copy; inscribed by the author, 'To Jonathan Miller from the Author.' Fleming, an antiquarian book collector himself, was clearly very much aware of old conventions slipping away, and often adhered to this old custom of inscribing books from 'the Author.' In the nineteenth-century, it is not uncommon to find the closest associations; to a wife, mother, child, friend, etc., presented in this manner. In our day, this would seem cold, peculiar, or incomplete, but it does have a certain old-fashioned charm that antiquarian books are supposedly cherished for. All books described as first editions are first printings unless otherwise noted.
Seller: Peter L. Stern & Co., Inc, Newton, MA, U.S.A.
Fleming, Ian. THUNDERBALL. Jonathan Cape [1961], London, 1961.
Price: US$22500.00 + shipping
Description: Octavo, original black boards, front stamped in blind, spine stamped in gold. Signed by Fleming on the front free end paper. A James Bond novel. The first appearance of the head of SPECTRE, Ernst Stavro Blofeld. Source for several feature films. Gilbert: Ian Fleming The Bibliography, A9a (1.1). Hubin, p. 288. Smith and White: Cloak and Dagger Fiction (3rd ed.) 1889. A fine copy in a just about fine dust jacket with a new publisher price label affixed over the printed price of 15s at the lower front flap corner, mild toning to upper spine panel, light rub mark to lower front panel. Now housed in a custom clamshell box. An attractive copy. (30685)
Seller: John W. Knott, Jr, Bookseller, ABAA/ILAB, Laurel, MD, U.S.A.
FLEMING, Ian. Thunderball. Jonathan Cape, 1961, 1961.
Price: US$44893.56 + shipping
Description: First edition, first impression, presentation copy. Octavo. Original dark grey boards, spine lettered in gilt, skeletal hand motif blocked on the front cover in blind (Gilbert's A binding). With first issue dust jacket (priced at 15s.) Head and foot of spine very slightly bumped; a fine copy. Minor stain to a small portion of the front panel, short closed tear to the foot of the rear panel, extremities very slightly rubbed; else a near-fine and bright jacket. Inscribed by the author "To Noël, In exchange for the copy of P & C he didn't send me! With love Ian" on the front free endpaper. The inscription refers to Noël Coward's first and only novel, Pomp and Circumstance (1960), at the centre of which is a thinly-veiled account of Fleming's affair with Ann. Set on the fictional island of Samolo - a close match for Jamaica - it concerns the secret relationship between the aristocratic Eloise and her lover, Bunny, whose character mirrors Fleming's almost exactly. "In the character of Bunny. we have a remarkably unflinching portrait of Ian Fleming's time on the island in 1949-51, the years immediately preceding his marriage to Ann and the simultaneous launch of James Bond . It's astonishing how little Coward bothered to make up" (Parker, page 91). This copy is from the significant Ian Fleming collection of Martin Schøyen (b.1940), with his bookplate. Schøyen's private collection of manuscripts, which span all cultures and all time periods, is one of the largest and most comprehensive of its kind. Matthew Parker, Goldeneye, Where Bond Was Born: Ian Fleming's Jamaica, 2015; Gilbert A9a(1.1); The Schøyen Collection No. 70.
Seller: Adrian Harrington Ltd, PBFA, ABA, ILAB, Royal Tunbridge Wells, KENT, United Kingdom
FLEMING, Ian.. Thunderball.. London: Jonathan Cape, 1961, 1961.
Price: US$112233.90 + shipping
Description: First edition, first impression, the dedication copy, inscribed to Ernest Cuneo by the author on the front free endpaper, "To Ernie, who started these thunderballs rolling! From Ian". The printed dedication reads, "To Ernest Cuneo, Muse." Ernest L. Cuneo (19051988) was an American lawyer and newspaperman. At the outbreak of the Second World War, he was appointed a liaison officer between the OSS, British Security Coordination (a part of MI6), the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the United States Department of State, and US President Franklin Roosevelt. While working with British Intelligence, he became a close friend of Ian Fleming, as well as Roald Dahl, Noël Coward, and Ivar Bryce. After the war, Cuneo joined with Ivar Bryce and a group of investors, including Ian Fleming, to gain control of the North American Newspaper Alliance (NANA). When Fleming was considering writing detective fiction, Cuneo introduced Fleming to elements of the New York underworld. Cuneo was exactly the kind of affable, larger-than-life character calculated to appeal to Fleming. A college football star gone to fat, Cuneo was almost as wide as he was tall. Fleming named a taxi driver in Diamonds Are Forever "Ernie Cureo" (sic). Fleming later credited Cuneo with more than half the plot for Goldfinger. As Fleming's inscription acknowledges, Cuneo was crucial to the genesis of Thunderball. In mid-1958, Fleming and Ivar Bryce began talking about the possibility of a Bond film. Later that year, Bryce introduced Fleming to a young Irish writer and director, Kevin McClory, and the three of them, together with Fleming and Cuneo, formed the partnership Xanadu Productions. All four worked up various outlines, treatments and scripts, under such titles as "SPECTRE", "James Bond of the Secret Service", and "Longitude 78 West". Memories of who contributed which elements vary, but Cuneo seems to have been responsible for ships with underwater trapdoors in their hulls and an underwater battle scene. Xanadu Productions never made the film, and in the event James Bond did not make his screen debut until Dr. No. Fleming recycled all the major elements of these abandoned film treatments for this novel. This immediately led to legal difficulties with Kevin McClory, who claimed part copyright, but Fleming's inscription to his American friend, with his cheerful acknowledgement of Cuneo's part in the book's creation, predates that unhappy episode. Fleming did not dedicate all of his James Bond books. Only five from the series of 13 Bond titles published during his lifetime have printed dedications. Of these five, only two are dedicated to single recipients: Goldfinger dedicated to William Plomer, and the current book. Gilbert A9a(1.1). Octavo. Original dark grey boards, spine lettered in gilt, skeletal hand motif blocked on the front cover in blind (Gilbert's A binding). With first issue dust jacket (priced 15s). Extremities bumped, some minor marks to fore edge, unclipped jacket nicked and rubbed with some minor loss, a very good copy in a like jacket.
Seller: Peter Harrington. ABA/ ILAB., London, United Kingdom