The Book of Bond or Every Man His Own 007, Lt.-Col. William ('Bill') Tanner [Kingsley Amis]

£70.00

The Book of Bond or Every Man His Own 007, Lt.-Col. William ('Bill') Tanner [Kingsley Amis]

Name: The Book of Bond or Every Man His Own 007, Lt.-Col. William ('Bill') Tanner [Kingsley Amis]
Brand: Broadhursts Books
SKU: 4034
Price: 70.00 GBP
Availability: InStock

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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.

Book Condition: Good

Book Authors: Lt.-Col. William ('Bill') Tanner [Kingsley Amis]

Book Publisher: Jonathan Cape

Book Language: English

Narrative Type: Fiction

Genre: Thriller & Suspense

Book edition: First Edition

Signed: No

Book Pages: 111

Book Publication Year: 1965

Book Publication Date:

Book Binding: Hardcover

Illustrator: Ray Hawkey

Book Series: James Bond

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.

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