Moonraker.

'one of the finest things that Ian Fleming ever did'

First edition of the third James Bond novel, and the only one to take place entirely in Britain. One of two variant states, this printed on slightly thicker paper stock and with the word 'shoot' on page 10, l. 31 correctly printed. The entire first impression (containing both 'shoot' and 'shoo' states) was issued on 7 April 1955. Gilbert has revised his assignation of the primacy of the 'shoo' issue, stating that the misprint developed later in the initial run.

Moonraker was perhaps the most personal of the Bond novels. The early chapters are based largely on Fleming's life in London — the famous scene in which Bond bests Hugo Drax at bridge was based on Fleming's membership at the private club Boodles — and it explores themes of Englishness, the Second World War, rocketry, and the threat to western states of Communism as well as renewed Nazi activity. The author Michael Dibdin described the bridge scene as, 'surely one of the finest things that Ian Fleming ever did' (introduction to the Penguin books edition, 2006).

First edition, first impression, 'shoot' issue (no priority established); 8vo (19.5 x 13.5 cm); dampstain to extreme edges of pages, almost entirely not affecting text, occasional spot or mark to text-block though still legible, else good; publisher's black cloth with silver title to upper board and spine, unclipped illustrated dust-jacket, some fading and toning to spine, historic, professional restoration to spine ends and extremities of flap folds, very slight signs of wear to extremities, else a very good copy; 256pp.