"A NAKED ARM SMELLING OF CHANEL NO. 5 SNAKED ROUND HIS NECK…"

FLEMING, Ian. The Man With the Golden Gun. London: Jonathan Cape, (1965). Octavo, original black paper boards, patterned endpapers, original dust jacket. $1500.

First edition of Fleming's final Bond novel, published the year after the author's death, in which 007 travels to Fleming's beloved Jamaica to neutralize the assassin of the book's title.

Because Fleming wrote this Bond adventure while ill—the author "was only able to work on it for one and a half hours a day"—the publisher hired novelist Kingsley Amis to complete and revise it (Black, 75). Made into the 1975 film of the same title starring Roger Moore as Bond, with an all-star cast including Christopher Lee, Britt Ekland, Maud Adams and Hervé Villachaize. Gilbert's first impression, first issue, second state binding, without gilt-embossed gun on front cover, as usual; the first-issue binding is extremely rare. With green patterned endpapers. Gilbert A13a(1.3). Bondi & Pickard, 50.

Faint spotting to text block edges; dust jacket with minuscule rubs to extremities, faint foxing to upper portion of rear flap only. A lovely copy, very nearly fine.