Modesty Blaise, Peter O'Donnell — 1st Edition

£185.00

Modesty Blaise, Peter O'Donnell — 1st Edition

Name: Modesty Blaise, Peter O'Donnell — 1st Edition
Brand: Broadhursts Books
SKU: 4198-SD-F-VG-14
Price: 185.00 GBP
Availability: InStock

In stock

£185.00

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Publication: London, Souvenir Press, 1965

Formatting: 8vo, pp. 224.

Condition Report: Very Good. The book presents well, retaining a firm and remarkably square binding with no leaning to the spine block; professionally handled. Original black cloth boards remain sharp with bright silver gilt lettering to the spine, though there is a hint of minor shelf-wear rubbing to the extremities. The text-block edges exhibit some mild scattered foxing typical of mid-century paper stock, which intrudes only marginally onto the extreme edges of the preliminary pages. Internally, the pages are otherwise clean, bright, and free from any significant tears or blemishes. The original dust jacket shows some light edge-wear and creasing along the top margin and spine ends, alongside minor rubbing to the panels, but it remains vibrant, complete, and highly presentable.

Catalogue Note: True first edition, first impression of Peter O'Donnell’s seminal espionage thriller, published by Souvenir Press in 1965. Originally conceived as a highly successful comic strip for the London Evening Standard in 1963, the character's immense popularity necessitated this novelisation, which stands as the debut full-length prose appearance of Modesty Blaise.

Bears a previous owner's signature to the front endpaper. As an increasingly scarce title on the open market, particularly when retaining a well-preserved original dust jacket, early printings of this iconic 1960s pop-culture staple are highly sought after by collectors of spy fiction and comic history alike.

Following her retirement from running the Tangier-based international crime syndicate known as 'The Network', Modesty Blaise and her fiercely loyal right-hand man, Willie Garvin, find themselves wealthy but restless in London. Their civilian peace is permanently shattered when the British Secret Service recruits them to intercept a multi-million-pound diamond shipment destined for the Middle East. Plunged back into a lethal world of international espionage, the duo must outwit the ruthlessly brilliant Gabriel and his gang of highly trained mercenaries. A masterclass in 1960s cool, Modesty Blaise introduces readers to one of the most capable, independent, and enduring heroines in thriller fiction.

Book Condition: Very Good

Book Authors: Peter O'Donnell

Book Publisher: Souvenir Press

Book Language: English

Narrative Type: Fiction

Genre: Thriller & Suspense

Book edition: First Edition

Signed: No

Book Pages: 224

Book Publication Year: 1965

Book Publication Date:

Book Binding: Hardcover (Cloth)

Illustrator: N/A

Book Series: Modesty Blaise

Country/region of manufacture: London, United Kingdom

Book Dimensions:

Book Condition Guide

We stock thousands of books in a wide range of conditions. To make things clear and to help you know exactly what to expect, Please refer to these condition categories to understand the condition of the book you will receive.

Condition	Description
New	A brand-new, unread and professionally handled book. Carefully preserved from publication to purchase, these books are offered in the best attainable condition. This grade applies to recently published titles that have not entered long-term storage.
As New	The book is in pristine, original condition as if just published. No signs of use or handling. The dust jacket (if present) is equally flawless. This grade applies to any book that has remained untouched in storage for years.
Fine	The book is close to As New. It remains bright and attractive, but could show minor imperfections to the boards and/or dust jacket (if present). Its pages are typically clean and unmarked.
Near Fine	The book has a number of small flaws, i.e. slight rubbing to the edges, or tiny chips or creases to the dust jacket (if present). Its pages may have faint marks, or creases that are barely perceptible — nothing that detracts from their overall condition.
Very Good	The book maintains its structural integrity, and has no major flaws such as tears to its binding or pages. It may, however, show signs of careful use, handling, or storage — small marks and creases, light foxing. Its dust jacket (if present) remains fully intact, but small tears may be present.
Good	A book that remains intact and readable with complete text pages, but shows moderate signs of wear and use to both the book and dust jacket (if present). It may have noticeable creases, nicks, or stains, and the spine likely shows fading, bumping, and rubbing. There could be writing, underlining, and other marks on some pages, though the majority will be clean and tidy.
Fair	A book with significant wear or damage. The text pages will be complete, but there may be heavy underlining, highlighting and staining throughout, and the book’s endpapers, half-title, and copyright pages could be damaged or missing. The binding could be loose, and the dust jacket (if present) may have notable scuffs or tears. These copies are usually of interest for content, signature(s) or scarcity.
Poor	A heavily worn book whose value lies in its complete and legible text. A poor book will have substantial defects — loose joints or hinges, detached covers, loose and/or missing pages, and could be heavily soiled. A poor book is also known as a reading copy, and although compromised, can hold historical or bibliographic significance.