St Marys Books

An incredible presentation copy from the estate of Paul Gallico. First edition, first impression in original Richard Chopping dust jacket priced 16s. net. Original black cloth with white embossed 'ski slope' design to front board, silver lettering to spine. Inscribed in blue ink to ffep: "To Paul / Who has always seen the joke! / From Ian." Author Gallico (1897-1976) is best known for his work The Snow Goose. He met Fleming while working at the Sunday Times newspaper and the pair became close friends. It was Gallico who encouraged Fleming to publish and indeed write more James Bond books after he was impressed by a draft of Casino Royale. A collectable book in its own right, this wonderfully personal inscription and important provenance make for an exceptional association copy. Foxing to top edge of text block and then a little to the fore edge, minor tears to jacket extremities with some rubbing and fading.