James Bond First Editions

Too Hot to Handle (Moonraker).

FLEMING, Ian Lancaster (1908-1964).

New York, NY: Perma Books, 1957. FIRST PRINTING. Paperback (17 x 11cm), pp.125; [1] advertisement. Publisher's illustrated card covers, all edges tinted red. Some very light rubbing and a couple of creases to corners otherwise a clean bright copy of a fragile book, housed in a custom-made gilt-titled cloth chemise. Some expected wear, joints rubbed, some damp-marking but no major defects. Moonraker was retitled Too Hot to Handle when Perma Books published it in America in 1956. Perhaps this was to avoid confusion with Arthur Watkin's stage play 'The Moonraker', which was running at the time and was filmed under the same title in 1958. As was the case with the first American paperback edition of Casino Royale [published as You Asked For It], the novel featured the original name as a subtitle on the cover. Too Hot to Handle was notable for being 'Americanised'; replacing British idioms for American ones such as 'knave of hearts' with 'jack of hearts', 'lift' with 'elevator' and 'zebra crossing' with 'pedestrian crossing'. The title reverted to Moonraker in America in 1960, when it was first published by Signet Books. Item #49688

Price: £195.00