Casino Royale.

by FLEMING, Ian.

$64,857 · Offered by Biblio

First edition · Signed

London: Jonathan Cape,, 1953. Including an original watercolour by the jacket artist and a "10 bob note" signed by Fleming First edition, inscribed on the front free endpaper: "Kenneth Lewis who executed the dust jacket based upon a design provided by Ian Fleming". Kenneth Lewis (1926-2013) was Fleming's colleague at Kemsley Newspapers. Loosely inserted is one of nine original watercolours by Lewis; in 2005 he also produced a set of three watercolours for Casino Royale, Live and Let Die, and Moonraker. Also loosely inserted is a Bank of England 10 shilling note signed across the centre by Ian Fleming. It is printed in red-brown, with a metal security thread, features a vignette of Britannia, and the chief cashier's facsimile signature is that of L. K. O'Brien, all of which dates the note between 1955 and 1961. In theory, it was illegal to deface Bank of England notes, but the practice was commonplace for raffles and charity events. Fleming's first novel had an initial print run of 4,760 copies. "Many of these went to public libraries and we believe that less than half of the first printing was sold to the public" (Biondi & Pickard). Octavo. Original drawing (89 x 64 mm) on thick wove paper (169 x 119 mm) loosely inserted, drawn in grey, yellow, red, and black watercolour, signed and dated ("Kenneth Lewis '05") and numbered ("004"). Bank of England 10 Shilling note signed in black ink "Ian Fleming" loosely inserted. Original black boards, spine lettered in red, front cover wit

• Year: 1953
• Edition: First Edition
• Printing: first
• Binding: hardcover

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