Published by Jonathan Cape, London; 1957. 8vo. 253pp. First edition, first impression. Condition: Near Fine/Fine
Bound in original black boards with a gun and rose blocked in silver and red metallic foil to the front and title in silver to the spine. The binding is square and tight, and the boards are in smart condition, with just a touch of bumping to the spine ends, a couple of small marks. The book is only lightly handled, though, and the binding remains in excellent condition. Inside, the pages are clean and bright, with just a little toning to the edges.
This beautiful book is housed in a facsimile dust jacket, which is in fine condition, bright and smart and complementing the book perfectly.
This iconic work was the fifth novel in Fleming's epic James Bond series, written at Fleming's Goldeneye estate in Jamaica. The novel focuses on the East-West Cold War tensions and the UK's decline in power and influence following the Second World War. Whilst writing it, Fleming thought this might be his final 007 novel, and left the ending on a cliff-hanger, with Bond in a bad way, so that he could end the series if he chose to. Needless to say, Fleming changed his mind and followed it up with Dr No, which sees Bond recover and sent to Jamaica. From Russia, with Love was well received by readers and critics alike. It was the first of the Bond books to be serialised by The Daily Express, and adapted into a comic strip by the paper in 1960. It was adapted to the big screen in 1963, starring Sean Connery as Bond, being the second film in the series to be released, after Dr No. This iconic literary classic is a rare treasure and a must-have for any Ian Fleming and 007 collector.