First Edition Casino Royale

Posted by trav in Book Collecting, Book Column      No comments

Jul
10

Here is one for the book collector wish list: a true first (First Edition, First Printing, First UK) of Ian Fleming’s Casino Royale. Just a couple of rough spots around the edges of the dust jacket. Fantastic.

This is one of the 4,728 first run printings from 1953 and can be yours for about $80,000. I wonder how many of the 4,728 are still around? The seller says that Ian Fleming designed the cover himself. That’s pretty cool if the concept was indeed his.

Back in 2008 the Guardian posted a slideshow of the 6 most popular covers the book has had. The original cover sure looks understated compared to all of the gambling Bond girls that made the book covers in later publishings.