Available Copies from Independent Booksellers
John le Carré. Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy Signed by John le Carré postcard. Hodder & Stoughton, 1974.
Price: US$516.69 + shipping
Condition: Very Good
Description: John le Carré ,Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, Signed by John le Carré, postcard will be sent boxed and via a signed for method of postage Extra postage will be needed for overseas orders if the weight exceeds one kilo book is signed without dedication unless stated otherwise. All books come with a lifetime guarantee No Coa's issued unless the book originally came with one then it will be included with the book.
Seller: Turn The Page Books, Newcastle, United Kingdom
Le Carre, John LeCarre, John. Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy. Hodder and Stoughton, London, 1974.
Price: US$895.00 + shipping
Description: SIGNED BY THE AUTHOR on a special, decorative bookplate. A VERY CLEAN, NICE COPY WITH A BRIGHT, ATTRACTIVE DUSTJACKET IN NEW, GLOSSY BRODART. NO PREVIOUS OWNER MARKINGS. Decorative, blank bookplate on front pastedown. NOT A REMAINDER. FIRST PRINTING. NOT PRICE CLIPPED. 355 pages. (note: image next to listing may be a stock image not representative of Hodder dustjacket.) COLLECTIBLE COPY.
Seller: Books Plus, LLC, Lexington, SC, U.S.A.
Le Carre, John LeCarre, John. Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy. Hodder and Stoughton, London, 1974.
Price: US$1195.00 + shipping
Description: SIGNED BY THE AUTHOR on a special, decorative bookplate. A VERY CLEAN, HANDSOME COPY WITH A BRIGHT, ATTRACTIVE DUSTJACKET IN NEW, GLOSSY BRODART. NO PREVIOUS OWNER MARKINGS. NOT A REMAINDER. FIRST PRINTING. NOT PRICE CLIPPED. 355 pages. (note: image next to listing may be a stock image not representative of Hodder dustjacket.) Handsome copy of one of Le Carre's most popular titles. COLLECTIBLE COPY.
Seller: Books Plus, LLC, Lexington, SC, U.S.A.
Price: US$1750.00 + shipping
Condition: Fine
Description: The famous Karla/George Smiley Trilogy by John Le Carre. All three volumes are the UK 1st Edition, 1st Printing. The books and jackets are especially nice. All books are photographed without acetate jacket protectors but all books will have fresh acetates provided upon purchase. TINKER TAILOR SOLDIER SPY - 1st UK printing, 1974. A Fine/Fine book with light foxing to the fore-edges, else a beautiful clean unmarked book. Top edge stained plumb as issued. In a price clipped jacket which shows remarkably well and it is very unusual to find the spine of this jacket so dark. A touch of wear to the bottom corners only. And now preserved in an archival jacket protector. A genuine signed bookplate is affixed to the front endpaper. THE HONOROUABLE SCHOOLBOY - 1st UK printing, 1977. A Fine book, in a Near Fine price clipped jacket which shows light wear and one or two smallish chips along the extremities, a small crease to bottom of front panel, and a 5 mm closed tear to top edge, else Near Fine. SMILEY'S PEOPLE - 1st UK Edition, 1979. A Fine book in a Fine unclipped dust jacket. In the complete Dust Jacket with original price intact. The book has a previous owner name and circular seal pressed into the front endpaper. Otherwise a Fine unmarked copy in a beautiful jacket. A very attractive autographed set of the 20th Century's best Cold War spy novels. This three volume set will require extra shipping. Email for quote. Robust shipping.
Seller: Foley & Sons Fine Editions, Saskatoon, SK, Canada
Le Carré, John. Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy. Hodder & Stoughton London, 1974.
Price: US$2000.00 + shipping
Condition: Fine
Description: First Edition, First Printing SIGNED by John Le Carre on a laid in signature. An attractive dustjacket that has some fading to the spine. The book is bound in the publisher's black cloth and is in excellent condition. The binding is tight with minor wear to the edges. The pages are clean with NO marks or bookplates in the book. A lovely copy in collector's condition.
Seller: Magnum Opus Rare Books, Missoula, MT, U.S.A.
Price: US$2325.16 + shipping
Condition: Very Good
Description: Very good condition first edition of The Karla Trilogy comprising, Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, The Honourable Schoolboy and Smileys People, all with tipped in signatures of the author. All with original boards, dust jackets and only minimal rubbing to spine ends and corners. Tinker Tailor Soldier Sailor has light fading of the spine of dust jacket. The Honorable Schoolboy has small internal tape repairs to two nicks on upper edge. All 8vo
Seller: Rare And Antique Books PBFA, Exeter, DEVON, United Kingdom
John le Carré. Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy Signed John le Carré. Hodder & Stoughton, UK, 1974.
Price: US$3229.39 + shipping
Condition: Very Good
Description: Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy Signed by John le Carré First Edition Hodder & Stoughton 1974. A VG+ copy. No previous owner's marks or inscriptions and contents unblemished throughout. No foxing to edges. Covers without marks or toning. Very small bump to bottom right hand corner of front cover (see image). In a VG+ price clipped dust jacket with no creasing, tears or loss and none of the usual fading to spine. SIGNED BY THE AUTHOR without dedication directly to title page.
Seller: Brought to Book Ltd, London, United Kingdom
Price: US$3500.00 + shipping
Condition: Fine
Description: First UK Edition/First Printing. Hardcover. Fine book in a fine unclipped dust jacket. The book is not signed by the author. Includes a loose first page from the novel, annotated and signed by the author in his hand "John Le Carre burnt the first version of this novel. This was the beginning of the new beginning.John Le Carre". Le Carre offered an explanation for the writing of this novel in a 2011 introduction to a later edition of the novel as he originally began to compose the story without flashbacks. Frustrated with the attempt, Le Carre burnt the first version of the manuscript and reworked, with flashbacks, and published in 1974 the final version.
Seller: MDS BOOKS, Mississauga, ON, Canada
LE CARRÉ, John.. Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy.. London. Hodder & Stoughton, 1974.
Price: US$3509.00 + shipping
Description: First edition, flat signed by the author on the title-page; 8vo ; Heywood Hill card loosely inserted; publisher's blue boards, device to upper board and titles to spine gilt, illustrated dust-jacket, slight rubbing to extremities, fading to spine and slightly along top edge of upper panel, small closed tear to head of rear panel, otherwise a very good copy, not price-clipped and internally fine. British spymaster George Smiley squares off against his Soviet nemesis, known only as Karla.
Seller: Shapero Rare Books, London, United Kingdom
Price: US$3552.33 + shipping
Description: Three separate books, all first editions, first printings. Tinker Tailor, Soldier Spy published in 1974; The Honourable Schoolboy published in 1977; Smiley's People published 1980. All books are very good/near fine. Tinker Tailor - SIGNED via bookplate to the half-title by John le Carre; arguably the author's masterpiece. A near fine book without inscriptions, firm and square binding in clean black boards; a little rubbing to the edges and gently pushed to the spine tips; the publisher's topstain is faded. The near fine unclipped dustwrapper (£2.95 net stated) is bright and vibrant with some fading to the spine; some rubbing to the spine tips and corners and a small nick to the bottom edge. The Honourable Schoolboy - a near fine book SIGNED via bookplate on the half-title by the Author. In a very good edgeworn clipped dust wrapper with wear and a little chipping to the extremities. Smiley's People - a near fine book SIGNED without dedication on a bookplate to the half-title. All now protected in Brodart wrappers. The first volume was the basis for the 1970s series starring Sir Alec Guinness and latterly the excellent motion picture featuring Gary Oldman.
Seller: John Atkinson Books ABA ILAB PBFA, Harrogate, United Kingdom
Price: US$3552.33 + shipping
Description: A first edition, first printing published by Hodder and Stoughton in 1974. A fine book with one neat name to the half-title - SIGNED without dedication to the title page by Le Carre. In a fine neatly clipped wrapper WITHOUT fading to the spine. One touch of rubbing to the top of the spine - certainly the best example we have ever handled.
Seller: John Atkinson Books ABA ILAB PBFA, Harrogate, United Kingdom
Price: US$3810.68 + shipping
Description: An uncorrected proof of Le Carre's masterpiece, published in 1974 by Hodder and Stoughton. With the rare proof dust wrapper. The book is without inscriptions with some rubbing and a little browning in place to the spine. SIGNED to a bookplate affixed to the title page, 'John Le Carre, aka David Cornwall'. The rare proof dust wrapper has wear to the corners and edges and a little sunning to the spine. Exceptionally scarce.
Seller: John Atkinson Books ABA ILAB PBFA, Harrogate, United Kingdom
John le Carré. Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy Signed John le Carré. Hodder & Stoughton, UK, 1974.
Price: US$3875.27 + shipping
Condition: Near Fine
Description: Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy Signed by John le Carré First Edition Hodder & Stoughton 1974. A near fine copy. No inscriptions or signs of ownership. Top edge tint still bold and bright, no bumping to corners or edges. In a near fine dust jacket that has no fading at all to spine. Not price clipped. SIGNED BY THE AUTHOR directly to half title page without dedication. "Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy" by John le Carré is a gripping espionage novel set during the Cold War. The story follows George Smiley, a retired British intelligence officer, who is brought back into the world of espionage to uncover a Soviet mole within the highest ranks of the British Secret Service, known as the Circus. Smiley must navigate a complex web of deceit, betrayal, and hidden identities as he delves into the past and present activities of his former colleagues. With meticulous detail and psychological depth, Le Carré crafts a thrilling tale of intrigue, loyalty, and the cost of espionage in a world where trust is a luxury.
Seller: Brought to Book Ltd, London, United Kingdom
John Le Carre. Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy (double-signed by author). Hodder & Stoughton, 1974.
Price: US$5000.00 + shipping
Condition: Near Fine
Description: "Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy" by John Le Carre. 1974 first UK edition first printing, double-signed by the author "John Le Carré alias David Cornwell - or the other way around!" on title, original boards, dust-jacket, light creasing to head, small patch of laminate lifting at upper joint, faint rubbing to upper and lower edge, but a near-fine example generally. Rare double-signed and in such good condition without the usual fading to spine. Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy is a 1974 spy novel by British-Irish author John le Carré. It follows the endeavours of taciturn, aging spymaster George Smiley to uncover a Soviet mole in the British Secret Intelligence Service. The novel has received critical acclaim for its complex social commentaryand, at the time, relevance, following the defection of Kim Philby. It has been adapted into both a television series and a film, and remains a staple of the spy fiction genre.[2][3] Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy was followed by The Honourable Schoolboy in 1977 and Smiley's People in 1979. The three novels together make up the "Karla Trilogy", named after Smiley's long-time opponent Karla, the head of Soviet foreign intelligence and the trilogy's overarching antagonist. In 2022, the novel was included on the "Big Jubilee Read" list of 70 books by Commonwealth authors, selected to celebrate the Platinum Jubilee of Elizabeth II
Seller: Neverland Books, waalre, Netherlands
Price: US$5500.00 + shipping
Description: First editions of each title in the author's acclaimed Karla Trilogy. Octavo, original cloth, 3 volumes. Each volume is signed by John le Carre on a bookplate to the title page. Each is near fine in near fine dust jackets. An exceptional set, uncommon in this condition and signed. Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy garnered instant praise for Le Carre as "[t]he premier spy novelist of his time. Perhaps of all time" (Time). "Le Carre is simply the world's greatest fictional spymaster" (Newsweek). Le Carres inspiration drew from his experience of the revealing of the Cambridge Five traitors in the 1950s and 60s (Anthony, 2009), and the novels popularity can be seen in relation to those shocking events. In 2011, the novel was adapted into a successful film, starring Gary Oldman and Colin Firth, and it received three nominations at the 84th Academy Awards for Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Original Score, and Best Actor. This successful production is but one of Le Carres numerous accolades in espionage fiction. He was awarded both the Helmerich Award and the Goethe Medal, and, in 2008, The Times ranked Le Carré 22nd on its list of "The 50 greatest British writers since 1945."
Seller: Raptis Rare Books, Palm Beach, FL, U.S.A.
Price: US$6000.00 + shipping
Description: First editions of each title in the author's acclaimed Karla Trilogy. Octavo, 3 volumes, bound in full morocco, gilt titles and tooling to the spine, raised bands, inner dentelles, all edges gilt. Each volume is signed by John le Carre on a bookplate, with two signed "John le Carre aka David Cornwell." Each are in fine condition. Each volume is housed in a custom slipcase. An exceptional set, uncommon signed. Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy garnered instant praise for Le Carre as "[t]he premier spy novelist of his time. Perhaps of all time" (Time). "Le Carre is simply the world's greatest fictional spymaster" (Newsweek). Le Carres inspiration drew from his experience of the revealing of the Cambridge Five traitors in the 1950s and 60s (Anthony, 2009), and the novels popularity can be seen in relation to those shocking events. In 2011, the novel was adapted into a successful film, starring Gary Oldman and Colin Firth, and it received three nominations at the 84th Academy Awards for Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Original Score, and Best Actor. This successful production is but one of Le Carres numerous accolades in espionage fiction. He was awarded both the Helmerich Award and the Goethe Medal, and, in 2008, The Times ranked Le Carré 22nd on its list of "The 50 greatest British writers since 1945."
Seller: Raptis Rare Books, Palm Beach, FL, U.S.A.
Price: US$8396.42 + shipping
Condition: Very Good
Description: A set of the 'Karla' Trilogy : 'Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy', 'The Honourable Schoolboy' And 'Smiley's People'. All three titles are the First UK printings published by Hodder and Stoughton in 1974, 1977 and 1979 respectively. All three titles have been signed (without dedication) by the author to the title page. All three titles were signed at the same private signing event in 2019. Further details regarding this event can be supplied for provenance. Vol. 1) 'Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy' : The BOOK is in Very Good++ or better condition. Light pushing at the spine ends. The gilt titling remains bright. Light toning and spotting to the text-block. Free from inscriptions. The WRAPPER is complete and is in Very Good++ condition. It bears the correct price of '£2.95' to the lower front flap. Light edge wear with the usual fading of colouring to the spine. A very tiny light watermark to the lower rear corner, which is barely discernible. Vol.2) 'The Honourable Schoolboy' : The BOOK is in Very Good++ or better condition. Blue map end-papers. Light pushing at the spine ends with a little fading at the extreme edges. The gilt titling remains bright. Some light toning and spotting to the text-block. Free from inscriptions. The WRAPPER is complete and is in near Fine condition. It bears the correct price of '£4.95' to the lower front flap. Only very light edge wear with a small closed tear to the lower front edge. Vol.3) 'Smiley's People' :The BOOK is in near Fine condition. Only very slight pushing at the spine ends. The gilt titling remains bright. Free from inscriptions. The WRAPPER is complete and is in near Fine condition. It bears the correct price of '£5.95' to the lower front flap. Only a hint of edge wear with light toning to the rear upper edge. A light vertical crease to the front flap but barely discernible. No fading of the orange colouring to the design on the spine. All three wrappers are protected in removable Brodart archival covers. A very scarce set of the author's landmark trilogy with such attributes and full provenance provided. Collectible. More images available on request. Ashton Rare Books welcomes direct contact.
Seller: Ashton Rare Books ABA : PBFA : ILAB, Market Harborough, United Kingdom
Le Carre, John. Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy.. Hodder & Stoughton, London, 1974.
Price: US$8800.00 + shipping
Description: First British edition of the author's seventh novel and what many consider to be his finest. Octavo, original cloth. Signed by author on the title page, "with best wishes John le Carre" and by the author's father, "and much love from his father Ronnie July 1974." Ronald Cornwell was the father of le Carre and was a known associate of the Kray twins. The family was continually in debt. The fatherâ"son relationship has been described as "difficult". Rick Pym, a scheming con man and the father of A Perfect Spy protagonist Magnus Pym, was based on Ronnie. When his father died in 1975, Cornwell paid for a memorial funeral service but did not attend, a plot point repeated in A Perfect Spy. Fine in a near fine dust jacket. An exceptional example, rare and desirable signed by both son and father, this is the first example we have seen. Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy garnered instant praise for Le Carre as "[t]he premier spy novelist of his time. Perhaps of all time" (Time). "Le Carre is simply the world's greatest fictional spymaster" (Newsweek). Le Carres inspiration drew from his experience of the revealing of the Cambridge Five traitors in the 1950s and 60s (Anthony, 2009), and the novels popularity can be seen in relation to those shocking events. In 2011, the novel was adapted into a successful film, starring Gary Oldman and Colin Firth, and it received three nominations at the 84th Academy Awards for Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Original Score, and Best Actor. This successful production is but one of Le Carres numerous accolades in espionage fiction. He was awarded both the Helmerich Award and the Goethe Medal, and, in 2008, The Times ranked Le Carré 22nd on its list of "The 50 greatest British writers since 1945."
Seller: Raptis Rare Books, Palm Beach, FL, U.S.A.
Price: US$9688.18 + shipping
Description: First editions, presentation copies, inscribed by le Carré to his friend Jerzy Pietrkiewicz and with Pietrkiewicz's library stamps. Pietrkiewicz was a Polish poet, novelist, and translator who emigrated to England during the Second World War, later becoming professor of Polish literature at King's College London. The second and third works are first impressions, while the first is a second impression. Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy is inscribed on the front free endpaper: "For Jerzy with love, David, alias John lé Carre". The Honourable Schoolboy is signed on the title page and inscribed below the dedication: "and for Jerzy with affection & admiration, David". Smiley's People is signed on the copyright page and inscribed on the title "* for friendship / for jerzy with deep affection and gratitude* / from David 3 Feb 80. In the Hampstead Salon". It is unusual to encounter all three books inscribed to the same recipient. The trilogy saw the return of le Carré's hero and master-spy George Smiley, almost ten years after the success of The Looking Glass War in 1965. Smiley is "an anti-Bond figure: dumpy, bespectacled, intellectual, mundane, and nearly invisible. In the Karla Trilogy. le Carré perfects the novelistic form of the realist spy" (Prévost, p. 197). Provenance: from the library of Charlie Watts (1941-2021), the drummer of the Rolling Stones from 1963 until his death, with his posthumous bookplates. Maxime Prévost, "Mythology and Diplomacy in Works by Ian Fleming and John le Carré", in Isabelle Daunais & Allan Hepburn, eds, Diplomacy and the Modern Novel, 2020. Three works, octavo. Original blue boards, titles to spines gilt. With dust jackets. Old newspaper clipping with article on Sir Maurice Oldfield loosely inserted in Smiley's People; Oldfield, MI6 director between 1973 and 1978, was one of Carré's models for the character of Smiley. Spine of The Honourable Schoolboy slightly faded at ends and with faint offsetting from jacket, otherwise all fine; jackets sunned at spine, that of The Honourable Schoolboy with short closed tear at foot, jackets unclipped; a fine set in near-fine jackets.
Seller: Peter Harrington. ABA/ ILAB., London, United Kingdom
Price: US$11302.88 + shipping
Description: Three separate books, all first editions, first printings. Tinker Tailor, Soldier Spy published in 1974; The Honourable Schoolboy published in 1977; Smiley's People published 1980. All books are near fine/near fine. 'Tinker Tailor' is not price clipped, has a small thin stain to the foot of the inside of the wrapper and no inscriptions in the book - some light spotting to the page edges and prelims. SIGNED by the Author to the title page. 'The Honourable Schoolboy' is near fine - the DJ is not price clipped and has a little wear to the spine tips. SIGNED by the Author to the tile page. 'Smiley's People' - book but is fine and has no inscriptions (some light spotting to the endpapers) - not clipped. SIGNED by the Author to the title page. All now protected in Brodart wrappers. The first volume was the basis for the 1970s series starring Sir Alec Guinness and latterly the excellent motion picture featuring Gary Oldman. A near fine set and exceptionally scarce SIGNED. All books were signed at Hatchards in 2018.
Seller: John Atkinson Books ABA ILAB PBFA, Harrogate, United Kingdom