The Mediterranean Caper by Cussler, Clive - 1983

Hardbound copy, Fine minus book with slightest touch of page edge soiling, no dust jacket as issued. One of an unknown (but quite small) number of copies that that Cussler had personally bound (in what appears to me to be bonded, or simulated, fine grain leather) to give as gifts to friends and family. There is a title page that shows no publisher and the reverse has no copyright or any information at all - so it is not clear how the book was printed, perhaps from original plates at Pyramid. This was Cussler s first published novel, which Pyramid issued as a trade paperback original this title was the first Dirk Pitt adventure to be published. A hardbound version was eventually published by Simon and Schuster in 1995 with Iceberg, and then as a stand-alone trade edition in 1996.This copy is inscribed and signed on the front end-page as per: To Dick and Sandy: Here s to your exotic manor house on Puget Sound. May it be on the cover of Architectural Digest. Your pal, Clive Cussler, 12-83. Dick & Sandy were long-time friends of Cussler s, who apparently received the book as a present during the Holidays of 1983. Finally, laid-in is a December 1983 letter from Cussler to Dick regarding a possible article for a yachting magazine. Cussler has added a P.S. at bottom as per: Here's a couple of paperbacks that I had made up into hardcover. Rare.