THE SPY WHO CAME IN FROM THE COLD (First edition - fifth impression)

John le Carré (Pseudonym of David Cornwell)

Published by Victor Gollancz, London, 1963

About this Item

Fifth impression of the true first edition, published in September 1963 - the same month as the first four impressions which were all printed before publication! ***Very good in blue cloth-covered boards with gilt titles to the spine. The gilt is still nice and bright. Edges of boards very slightly rubbed. Head and tail of spine just very slightly creased. Boards clean and unmarked. Corners sharp. Top edge of page block slightly darkened. Fore-edge very slightly foxed. Very slight reading lean to the binding. Spine tight. Internally also very good with clean pages. Neat contemporary ownership inscription to the top of the front free endpaper "Andrew Talbot-Ponsonby, Christmas 1963". No internal foxing. ***In a very good colour printed dustwrapper which has been corner price-clipped - otherwise the dustwrapper is complete, with virtually no loss, just some slight loss at the top and tail of the spine and tips of corner folds. The edges of the dustwrapper are not creased, just slightly rubbed, with a very small nick to the top of the front panel. The spine of the dustwrapper is slightly faded as usual (being a sun-sensitive red colour) but far less than is normally found with this title. The back panel of the dustwrapper is very clean (which is also very unusual as it is a plain white background). ***222 pages. 192mm x 130mm. ***'"The Spy Who Came in from the Cold" is a 1963 Cold War spy novel by the British author John le Carré. It depicts Alec Leamas, a British agent, being sent to East Germany as a faux defector to sow disinformation about a powerful East German intelligence officer. It serves as a sequel to le Carré's previous novels "Call for the Dead" and "A Murder of Quality", which also featured the fictitious British intelligence organization, "The Circus", and its agents George Smiley and Peter Guillam. "The Spy Who Came In from the Cold" portrays Western espionage methods as morally inconsistent with Western democracy and values. The novel received critical acclaim at the time of its publication and became an international best-seller; it was selected as one of the All-Time 100 Novels by Time magazine. In 1965, Martin Ritt directed a cinematic adaptation, with Richard Burton as Leamas.' (Wiki) ***'Superbly constructed, with an atmosphere of chilly hell.' J. B. Priestley. (Review quote taken from the front panel of the dustwrapper). ***An early fifth impression of the true first edition of one of the most iconic Cold War espionage books of the 1960s, in its original dustwrapper. These early printings are now becoming very hard to find in decent condition with complete dustwrappers. A very nicely preserved collectable example of an iconic book. ***For all our books, postage is charged at cost, allowing for packaging: any shipping rates indicated on ABE are an average only: we will reduce the P & P charge where appropriate - please contact us for postal rates for heavier books and sets etc. Seller Inventory # 7295x

Bibliographic Details

Title: THE SPY WHO CAME IN FROM THE COLD (First ...

Publisher: Victor Gollancz, London

Publication Date: 1963

Binding: Hardcover

Condition: Very Good

Dust Jacket Condition: Very Good

Edition: First Edition