Goldfinger by Fleming, Ian - 1959

London: Jonathan Cape, 1959 First edition, first impression, first issue, second state (lacking the 3mm diagonal line detail in the upper left area of the skull stamped to the front board, else identical to first state). Publisher's black cloth stamped in blind to front board with a line-drawing of a human skull with fifty-dollar gold pieces to each eye socket, lettered in gilt to spine; in the original pictorial dust jacket designed by Richard Chopping with the illustration of a human skull with gold coins in the eye sockets and a single red rose held between its teeth. A fine book, small bookseller ticket to rear pastedown; unclipped dust jacket, with short closed tear and a tiny nick to the head of the spine, faint rubbing to corners and spine folds, light toning to upper rear panel, bright and unfaded. Overall, a bright and near fine copy. Gilbert A7a (1.2). Goldfinger features the villain Auric Goldfinger, the richest man in England whose wealth is stored in his namesake mineral- gold. Indeed, the symbol of gold plays an important role throughout the text; the name "Auric" comes from the chemical element symbol for gold "Au," and Goldfinger murders his ex-girlfriend by covering her body completely in gold. In this novel, Bond must stop Goldfinger from completing Operation Grand Slam, a gold-smuggling plot that would cripple the world economy and give the Russian spy organization SMERSH total power over the West. Goldfinger also introduces one of the most memorable villainous sidekicks, Oddjob, whose deadly aim and razor-edged bowler hat make him a force to be reckoned with. . First Edition. Hard Cover. Near Fine/Dust Jacket Included. Illus. by Chopping, Richard.