London: Jonathan Cape, (1955). First edition, first impression, second state ("shoo" corrected to "shoot" on p. 10). 8vo. 255, (1) pp. Publisher's black cloth, stamped in silver, slightly cocked; in original dust-jacket by Fleming and Kenneth Lewis, small losses and creasing in top spine panel and edge, other small wear and creasing along panel edges, spine slightly darkened; ownership signature on front free endpaper of Hugo Pitman ("Pitman"), Fleming's lifelong friend and a partner in the brokerage firm Rowe and Pitman; small tear in bottom gutter edge, pp. 91/92; very short stain in bottom edge, pp. 249-(256); small circular yellow sticker at bottom rear panel (applied by Lawrence Hughes, Hugo's son-in-law, denoting importance). Gilbert A3a (1.2)

A handsome copy of the third James Bond novel.