8vo. Original blind-stamped black cloth, gilt-lettered spine [Gilbert binding A, no priority]; dust jacket priced "15s. net" (tiny chips to spine ends and fore-corners). Provenance: ownership signature on front free endpaper; Foyles (booksellers' ticket).

FIRST EDITION, FIRST ISSUE. Fleming's ninth Bond book, and his eighth full-length Bond novel. It was the first Bond novel to be based on a screenplay, written by Fleming, Kevin McClory and Jack Whittingham: the credit was shared between the three co-writers after McClory and Whittingham took Fleming to court, shortly before he publicized the novel. Gilbert A9a(1.1).