Fleming, Ian | First edition, signed by Sean Connery

Fleming, Ian

Thunderball. London: Jonathan Cape, 1961

8vo (187 x 122 mm). Half-title, with the issue points called for; stray fingersoiling at foot of p. 123. Publisher's dark brown cloth, front cover blindstamped, spine gilt lettered (Gilbert's binding A); lightly bumped at head of spine, mild wear and spots to edges. In the original pictorial dustjacket with the photographic portrait of Fleming on the back cover; burn mark with some loss to lower edge of the front inside flap, tiny nicks and creasing at extremities. Housed in a quarter morocco clamshell box.

First edition, signed by Sean Connery on the front free endpaper. Thunderball, the ninth book in the James Bond series, was a new departure for the novels, bringing continuity to the series through the introduction of SPECTRE and Ernst Blofeld, who would reappear as a villain several times. The film based on this book would be Connery's fourth appearance as the iconic MI6 agent. Rare to find copies signed by the actor responsible for the most iconic portrayal of James Bond. (See lot 1088.)

REFERENCE:

Gilbert A9a (1.1)