Ian Fleming | Moonraker, 1955, first edition, first impression, first state, signed by Kenneth Lewis

Ian Fleming

Moonraker. London: Jonathan Cape, 1955

8vo, FIRST EDITION, FIRST IMPRESSION, FIRST STATE, INSCRIBED AND SIGNED BY KENNETH LEWIS: inscribed ("Kenneth Lewis | Ian Flemings [sic] | favourite artist") on the front free endpaper and signed on the front flap, original black cloth, lettered in silver, original dust-jacket by Kenneth Lewis, housed in bespoke black cloth clamshell case with embossed dust-jacket design orange sides, dust-jacket lightly frayed at extremities

[with:]

LIMITED EDITION WATERCOLOUR SIGNED BY LEWIS (NO. 004 OF 009 PRODUCED) REFLECTING THE ARTWORK OF THE DUST-JACKET loosely inserted in volume (for further lots with limited edition watercolours signed by Lewis, see lots 107 and 108), plus plastic wallet containing related ephemera loosely inserted in case (list of ephemera available upon request).

GILBERT NOTES THIS AS A FIRST STATE (WITH "SHOO" FOR "SHOOT" ON PAGE 10). Kenneth Lewis (1926-2013) produced the dust-jacket designs for the first three Bond novels. He and Fleming were colleagues at Kemsley Newspapers in the early 1950s. See also lot 64.

PROVENANCE:

bookseller's ticket of of Angus & Robertson., Booksellers & Publishers

LITERATURE:

Gilbert A3a (1.1)