Pacific Vortex by Cussler, Clive - 1983

Hardbound copy, Near Fine book with slightest spot top corner front end-page, mild splay to front board, and touch of age toning to edges of page block. 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 Bantam as publisher, and the reverse has no copyright information but rather a Foreword. It is not clear how the book was printed, perhaps from Bantam s original plates. This was Cussler s first Dirk Pitt novel that was written in the early 1970s but not published until 1983, when Bantam issued it as a trade paperback original. A hardbound edition was published in the U.K. in 1983 by Piatkus. This copy is inscribed and signed on the front end-page as per: To Dick and Sandy, Where would we all be without McVey and Cussler Industries? Cheers, 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. Laid-in is a two page article from Skin Diver magazine, titled: Conversations with Clive Cussler - Will the Real Dirk Pitt Please Stand UP? Article written by - Bonnie J. Cardone.