Jonathan Cape Live And Let Die 1st edition
The design was used for all editions
The design was used for all editions. Coin on cover and lettering to spine often fade / oxidise
First edition, first state dust jacket with no mention of Kenneth Lewis. Note this DW, sadly has been trimmed
1st edition information.
Some first editions have a mistake in. the Irish Times review. See author'sskill on the left hand copy
A rather nice inscription by Kenneth Lewis the artist on this 2nd state dust jacket
02. Live And Let Die
Author : Ian FlemingPublisher : Jonathan Cape
Format : Hardback
Series : Cape hardbacks
Edition : 1st edition, 1st state
Year : 1954 (first published with this artwork)
Country published : UK
Artwork designer : Kenneth Lewis
General Notes
There are three states of the first edition dust jacket. The first state is the rarest and most expensive has no credit to Kenneth Lewis (as shown here). The second state has the credit overprinted in the middle of the gap below the text on the front flap. On the 3rd state it is printed directly under the text. The third state was also used on the 2nd edition of the book so is often swapped onto a 1st edition book.
To further complicate the above some of the 1st and 2nd state jackets have a mistake in the Irish Times (author’sskill) as shown in the above photo. This means that the first edition can be found with no less than 5 different variants of the dust jacket.
An embarrassing mistake can also be found on the copyright page of the 15th printing from 1982. The publisher is stated as Johnathan Cape rather than Jonathan Cape (see photo).
Collectors notes
The main issue with the book is that the gilt titles to the spine and the medallion on the cover fade / tarnish especially if the book has spent time without a dust jacket.