Exclusive First-look! 70th Anniversary ed. of Casino Royale (limited to a run of 150)
- Peter Crush
- 6 hours ago
- 6 min read
Queen Anne Press’s deluxe edition of Casino Royal teased collectors with what they could look forward to when its wider 150-run release became available. And now it’s here. We share this exclusive first look at what collectors can expect to see when they buy this book:
To say Queen Anne Press’s limited edition ‘70th Anniversary’ sets of Casino Royale have had a bit of a bumpy ride would probably be an understatement.
Initially intended to be released in 2023 – to mark 70 years since Ian Fleming’s first James Bond novel – these two fine binding offerings, comprising a 26-only A-Z denominated deluxe edition, followed by a further 150-run, individually numbered set, have suffered production problems, printing delays and lots more in-between.
But – and this is very much to his credit – QAP boss Fergus Fleming, (Ian Fleming’s nephew), quite rightly chose not to rush out a book that neither he, nor collectors would be happy with.
The first results of this thinking were exclusively revealed here, when we revealed the first look of the Deluxe edition.
But, by virtue of them being produced in tiny numbers (and costing a cool £750), this fabulous book was always going to be the one that most people could only salivate over rather own themselves.
The book most collectors were really looking forward to seeing was the one that would follow it – the 1-150 numbered set – the so-called ‘regular’ edition.
But let’s get one thing straight, there really is nothing ‘regular’ about this book.
www.jamesbondfirsteditions.co.uk was last year granted reseller status for this particular book. And I’m pleased to say that the very first finished copies arrived with me yesterday. Customers will start to receive their ordered copies in the post from tomorrow.
But ahead of their arrival, I can now give you this exclusive ‘first-look’.
Collectors really will have a great book
Above and below are photographs I've taken of this magnificent book, and before I give my reflections of it, it’s worth reminding readers why anyone who buys this book will be owning a book that - by any other yardstick - would pass for a deluxe edition one.
Let me explain!
Originally, the 150-book ‘regular’ set were due to be differentiated from the leather-bound deluxe set in QAP’s normal way - that is by having this (still fine-bound, letterpress set), bound in high quality cloth (similar to the special Ian Fleming Book Collector edition, also limited to 150 copies).
Problems in the production process, however, meant that the gluing wasn’t fixing as nicely as Fergus wanted it to (especially around the corners of the book), and after several attempts, the decision was taken to complete the book with a significantly better full-leather binding - with QAP swallowing the additional production costs this would entail.
The result is this superb racing green-bound leather book, featuring the same gold blocking on the spine as the deluxe edition, and a ‘CR’ monogram/motif on the front, based on what QAP describes as “our interpretation of Casino Royale's ledger book.”
This backstory is important here, because thanks to the necessary upgrade in materials, what buyers are really getting is a book that in any other conversation be described as a deluxe book – and for a significantly less deluxe price of £300.
Not surprisingly, we’ve already sold a significant number of these already.
Copies ordered through www.jamesbondfirsteditions.co.uk are the same price as the QAP-website listed ones.
But as an added extra, ONLY copies ordered via us will be signed by Fergus Fleming himself. If you want to order one, contact me now at enquiries@jamesbondfirsteditions.co.uk
So… what are they like?
The first striking feature is, of course, is the beautiful green leather covering.
It’s a really gorgeous dark, racing green (not too dark), with just the right level of grain.
The surface has a very comforting textured feel to it - not shiny, but not too grainy so as to make the blocking difficult to apply.
The leather isn’t – I would say – as thick or as cushioned-to-the-touch as the deluxe edition – but don’t let this put you off. It’s expensive feeling and, and just be holding this weighty book, your senses are aroused.
It was a sensible decision – I think, to use the same large spine blocking that was used on the deluxe version – and this big, bold typography really sets this book off when viewed from the side.
Do I like the CR monogram on the front? I must admit I was surprised when I saw a dummy book showing it at the start of the year.
But, say what you like, it’s distinctive, and certainly unique, and it’s growing on me.
So much so, in fact, that I've bought my copy that will sit proudly in my own collection.
Differences:
Given that the same sheets are used for both the deluxe and regular versions of the book, a lot of the internals of this new book are the same as the deluxe one.
But there are some small differences, which can be best seen by comparing the two together.
Height-wise there’s very little in it, and I think it’s explained by the extra padding of the thicker leather in the deluxe book.
But, whereas the deluxe version looks to have additional front and back panels of leather-covered card affixed to an existing panel – see pic (above, left), which makes the shoulders of the deluxe more pronounced – the ‘regular’ book appears to be made of a single piece of board, divided into back panel, spine and front panel. This then wraps around the book, and is crimped-in at the middle (see above pic, right).
This makes the regular book a bit slimmer than the more imposing deluxe. But I think it’s a small aside. And if you didn’t have a deluxe book to compare it with, you wouldn’t even know.
The same applies to a few other small differences:
Endpapers:
One difference I see is that on the regular book, the grey endpapers used are much lighter in colour. In the picture (left), the deluxe book's endpaper is a lot darker.
The book on top of is the light grey of the regular book.
Stitching:
There is a difference too in the stitching, with the regular book chosen to have red and green bands, while the deluxe sports red and yellow (see left). Obviously, if you didn’t have both books you wouldn’t know. The stitching is excellent on both.
What’s similar?
We already knew that these ‘regular’ editions contain the same ‘Bockingford White’ paper used in the official deluxe versions (again, I see this as yet another reason to consider the regular book as a ‘deluxe’ book) – and as with the official deluxe version, these brilliantly white pages are lovely to the touch.
The paper is not smooth, or glossy looking, but has a matt, textured feel to it, and as I previously mentioned in my blog about the deluxe edition, at 150gsm, this is about as thick as paper can be before it becomes stiffer, and less bendable. I think the thickness feels just right.
The paper used is actually favoured by watercolour artists, and it basically exudes quality. Fergus says this paper is particularly suitable for letterpress printing, as it soaks the ink up, without creating any smudges or blurred edges.
Should you get one?
I asked this same question when I showcased the deluxe version, and concluded that if you had the money, then why not push the boat out.
But if the deluxe book was a no-brainer to buy, than this book – which is effectively a deluxe book by accident – is surely one that all serious collectors really out to think hard about owning
Collectors are essentially buying the same quality as the deluxe version; a book made with the same love and attention; and one that has virtually the same leather finish as the deluxe version. And all for a fraction of the price.
I get that £300 is still not exactly a small number, but in the world of limited edition books, this represents exceptional value for money.
I asked Fergus directly if he felt that demand was such, he could have made more.
Of course, he said he could have done. But as he rightly also said, nobody ever loses out by producing slightly fewer books than there are people who want them!
Fergus understands that if you want a book to be special, not only does it have to be special in the way it’s made, but it also has to be scarce enough to give it ‘special’ status.
When there’s only ever going to be 150 of these, that’s its USP in one.
But, for a limited edition letterpress book, printed on sumptuous paper, with real leather and exceptional attention to detail, I don’t think there is another book publisher today that is giving customers anything close to what this Queen Anne Press offering does.
If you want one of these books, send me an email at: enquiries@jamesbondfirsteditions.co.uk
Remember, ONLY copies bought through www.jamesbondfirsteditions.co.uk will be signed by Fergus Fleming himself.
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