The Book of Bond or Every Man His Own 007. This item is unavailable.The Book of Bond or Every Man His Own 007

The Book of Bond or Every Man His Own 007, Lt.-Col. William ('Bill') Tanner [Kingsley Amis] — First Edition Publication: London, Jonathan Cape, 1965 Formatting: 8vo, pp. 111, [1]. Condition Report: Good. This ex-library copy remains structurally sound but exhibits the characteristic physical wear of institutional circulation. The black cloth binding is tight and uncocked, though the boards suffer from prominent adhesive residue, heavy tape offset, and slight discoloration where the dust jacket was previously secured. The text block is lightly toned but free from foxing or significant reading wear, preserving the striking red title page and gold endpapers. The original, unclipped dust jacket shows mild rubbing to the extremities and minor surface soiling to the lighter panels, but remains remarkably bright, crisp, and entirely intact without significant chipping. Catalogue Note: Written under the pseudonym of James Bond’s closest ally and M's Chief of Staff, this volume is a brilliant, tongue-in-cheek spoof penned by Kingsley Amis, a towering figure of modern literature who would later officially continue the Bond franchise with Colonel Sun. This first edition retains the famous reversible dust jacket designed by Ray Hawkey, an ingenious piece of mid-century interactive design allowing prospective agents to flip the wrapper and disguise their manual as The Bible Revised to be Read as Literature. The text is playfully illustrated with espionage devices and target graphics. The provenance of this ex-library copy is marked by a City of Liverpool Public Libraries bookplate affixed to the front pastedown, alongside a matching institutional stamp on the verso of the title page. Finding this title on the open market is generally straightforward, but securing a copy where the delicate reversible wrapper hasn't been permanently glued down to the boards or lost entirely is increasingly uncommon. For those seeking the glamour and danger of the 007 lifestyle without the inconvenience of poisoned shoes or shark encounters, The Book of Bond serves as the ultimate manual. Purporting to be an insider's guide penned by William Tanner, this witty and authoritative handbook details exactly what to wear, how to order a drink, how to navigate the casino, and how to spot an enemy agent, offering readers a highly classified masterclass in living like Ian Fleming’s most famous creation. …