The Spy Who Came In From the Cold

by Le Carre, John

The Spy Who Came in from the Cold is a novel by British author John le Carré. Set during the political tensions of the Cold War, the revolutionary espionage novel portrays the intelligence services of both Eastern and Western nations as sacrificing morality in the name of national security. The Spy Who Came in from the Cold received critical acclaim at the time of its publication and became an international bestseller. Named “Best Crime Novel” by the Crime Writers' Association in 1963 and “Best Mystery Novel” by the Mystery Writers of America in 1965, The Spy Who Came in from the Cold was the first work to win the award from both writing organizations. Additionally, it was named the “Best spy novel of all-time” by Publisher’s Weekly and is listed as one of the All-Time 100 Novels by Time magazine.

First Edition Identification

Victor Gollancz first published The Spy Who Came in from the Cold in London in 1963. First editions have no subsequent printings noted. Signed copies of this first edition sell for upwards of $3,000.

Other Collectible or Notable Editions

Coward-Mccann, Inc. published the first American edition of the novel in New York in 1964.

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The Spy Who Came in from the Cold
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The Spy Who Came in from the Cold

by Le Carre, John

Condition
Used - Near Fine in Near Fine dust jacket
Edition
First Edition
Published
1964
Binding
Hardcover
Quantity Available
1
Seller
Northridge, California, USA
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$149.99

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New York: Coward - McCann, Inc.. Near Fine in Near Fine dust jacket. 1964. First Edition. Hardcover. Stated first American edition hardcover. Last two lines on page 138 are transposed. Some minor wrinkling to spine suggesting a bit of damp at one time, and few minor stains to boards/edge. Yellow topstain is a bit faded. Contents are… Read more about this item
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$149.99
The Spy Who Came in From the Cold

The Spy Who Came in From the Cold

by Le Carre, John

Condition
Used - Good-
Jacket Condition
Good
Edition
1st Edition
Published
1963
Binding
Hardcover
Quantity Available
1
Seller
Hay-on-Wye, Powys, GBR
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$887.58

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Description:
London: Victor Gollanz. First Edition. 222pp. Extremities slightly bumped and rubbed, cover edges al ittle sunned. Previous owner's name to ffep.Some foxing to prelims. Front joint cracked. Occasional foxing and other marks to contents; minor closed tears to lower edges of pp183 & 185. Outer edges of text block grubby and slightly foxed. Dustwrapper shelf worn, chipped and grubby. Foxing… Read more about this item
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$887.58
THE SPY WHO CAME IN FROM THE COLD
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THE SPY WHO CAME IN FROM THE COLD

by LE CARRE, JOHN (DAVID CORNWELL)

Condition
Used - Very Good
Jacket Condition
Very Good
Edition
1st Edition
Published
1963
Binding
Hardcover
Quantity Available
1
Seller
Uxbridge, Ontario, CAN
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$223.35

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Description:
London: Victor Gollancz, 1963. 1st Edition . Hardcover. Very Good/Very Good. 12mo - over 6¾ - 7¾" tall. pp: 222. The fifth impression published in the same year as the first edition. Red printed dust jacket with the price visible in the bottom corner of the front flap. Llight blue cloth covered boards. Le Carre… Read more about this item
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$223.35
The Spy Who Came in from the Cold - with the wrap-around band and with signed card from the author
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The Spy Who Came in from the Cold - with the wrap-around band and with signed card from the author

by Le Carre, John

Condition
Used
Published
1963
Quantity Available
1
Seller
Harrogate, North Yorkshire, GBR
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Item Price
$2,873.48

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Description:
London: Gollancz, 1963. A first edition, first printing published by Gollancz in 1963. A very good book with fading to the foot of the spine. One previous owner's inscription to the front endpaper. Sporadic spotting to the prelims. In an gently faded wrapper which is not price clipped and has a couple of internal repairs to the spine. A… Read more about this item
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$2,873.48
The Spy Who Came in from the Cold

The Spy Who Came in from the Cold

by Le Carre, John

Condition
Used - Very Good in Very Good dust jacket; Edges and pages toned, jacket lightly worn at edges.
Edition
Fifth Printing
Published
1963
Binding
Hardcover
Quantity Available
1
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Selkirk, New York, USA
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$200.00

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London: Victor Gollancz Ltd. Very Good in Very Good dust jacket; Edges and pages toned, jacket lightly worn at edges.. 1963. Fifth Printing. Hardcover. Blue cloth. A beautiful early printing of the author's novel about Cold War spies. 1964 New York Times article about the author laid in. ; 8vo 8" - 9" tall; 222 pages .
Item Price
$200.00
The Spy Who Came In From The Cold
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The Spy Who Came In From The Cold

by Le Carre, John

Condition
Used - Near Fine
Jacket Condition
Near Fine
Edition
1st Edition 5th or later Printing
Published
1966
Binding
Hardcover
Quantity Available
1
Seller
London, GBR
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$903.87

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Description:
Inscribed by Author(s) 0 Signed, warmly inscribed and dated by John Le Carre directly to Ffep. Published by Victor Gollancz Ltd. London 1966. (22nd Imp.) Near Fine clean and bright condition. No other marks or inscriptions. Very occasional spotting. Clean and bright Blue cloth covers. Dustjacket not price clipped. Very minor wear with spotting to rear.
Item Price
$903.87
The Spy Who Came In From The Cold.

The Spy Who Came In From The Cold.

by le Carre, John

Condition
Used
Published
1963
Quantity Available
1
Seller
Palm Beach, Florida, USA
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$15,000.00

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Description:
London: Victor Gollancz, 1963. First edition of le Carre's classic work, which went on to reinvigorate the spy genre. Octavo, original cloth. Signed by the author on the title page, "David Cornwell aka John le Carre." Near fine in a near fine dust jacket. An exceptional example.
Item Price
$15,000.00
The Spy Who Came In From The Cold
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The Spy Who Came In From The Cold

by LE CARRE, John [ CORNWELL, David ]

Condition
Used - VG++/VG
Edition
1st Edition, Later printing
Published
1963
Binding
Hardcover
Quantity Available
1
Seller
Bishop's Stortford, Hertfordshire, GBR
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$319.28

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Description:
Victor Gollancz Ltd, 1963. 1st Edition, Later printing. Hardcover. VG++/VG. 1st Edition, 2nd Impression before publication. 12 x 19cm blue cloth boards with gilt titles to spine, 222pp, in publisher's unclipped dust jacket priced at 18/- net. The boards are clean and there is just a small bruise to both top corners. Internally clean,… Read more about this item
Item Price
$319.28
The Spy Who Came In From The Cold.
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The Spy Who Came In From The Cold.

by Le Carre, John.

Condition
Used
Published
2008
Binding
Hard Cover
Quantity Available
1
Seller
Whitley Bay, Tyne and Wear, GBR
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$351.20

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Description:
Fyfield; Oak Tree Press, 2008., 2008. Hard Cover. SIGNED LIMITED EDITION: Number 30 in an edition of only 124 copies signed by the Author. Hand-printed woodcut portrait of Le Carre by Stephen Alcorn tipped in as frontispiece and signed by the Artist. Red quarter cloth with gilt titles to spine and marbled paper-covered boards with printed white title panel… Read more about this item
Item Price
$351.20
The Spy Who Came in from the Cold
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The Spy Who Came in from the Cold

by John Le Carre

Condition
Used - Very Good
Jacket Condition
Good
Edition
First American Edition
Published
1964
Binding
Red and brown cloth, author's signature on front, title etc. on spine
Quantity Available
1
Seller
Pleasant Valley, New York, USA
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$20.00

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Description:
This is a classic novel by the premier author of spy fiction. Book is in good shape but slightly cocked. this was the 16th printing of the FIrst American Edition. Small previous owner's name on front endpaper. NOT the Book Club Edition.
Item Price
$20.00
The Spy Who Came In From The Cold.

The Spy Who Came In From The Cold.

by le Carre, John

Condition
Used
Published
1963
Quantity Available
1
Seller
Palm Beach, Florida, USA
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Item Price
$6,500.00

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Description:
London: Victor Gollancz, 1963. First edition of le Carre's classic work, which went on to reinvigorate the spy genre. Octavo, original cloth. Signed by the author on a tipped-in page, "John le Carre with best wishes 16 ix 64." Near fine in a near fine dust jacket.
Item Price
$6,500.00
The Spy Who Came In From the Cold

The Spy Who Came In From the Cold

by Le Carre, John

Condition
Used
Edition
Book Club Edition; Early Printing
Published
1963
Binding
Hardcover. Sewn binding is square and tight. Block and pages are clean and unmarked. Book appears to be mostly unread.
Quantity Available
1
Seller
Maysville, Georgia, USA
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Item Price
$69.00

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Description:
Hardcover. 256 pp. Coward-McCann, Inc., New York (1963). First Book Club Edition. Early Printing (1964). Bright, clean, square, unmarked copy that appears mostly unread. No Dust Jacket. Grey boards and corners straight and sharp. Minimal shelfwear. Slight creasing of spine ends and lightest bumping of corners. Near Fine. More photos on request. Shipped in a box within a bubble… Read more about this item
Item Price
$69.00
The Spy Who Came In From the Cold

The Spy Who Came In From the Cold

by Le Carre, John

Condition
Used
Jacket Condition
Dust Jacket Included
Edition
1st Edition
Binding
Hardcover
ISBN 10
0340527277
Quantity Available
1
Seller
Beverly Hills, California, USA
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Item Price
$300.00

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Description:
Coward-McCann. 1st Edition. Hardcover. Dust Jacket Included. First edition, 1964. Two tone cloth binding, grey on boards, red on spine, gold facsimile signature, gold titles. Pages topstained in yellow. Book near fine, except for slight wear at spine ends, slight fading on spine, slight edgewear, previous owner's signature on front free end-paper. DJ near fine, except for small… Read more about this item
Item Price
$300.00
The Spy who Came in From the Cold
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The Spy who Came in From the Cold

by John le Carre

Condition
Used - Very Good
Jacket Condition
Fair
Edition
First American edition
Published
1963
Binding
Hardbound
Quantity Available
1
Seller
Palm Desert, California, USA
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$30.00

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Description:
This hardbound book is in very good condition. The pages are clean and neat. The binding is tight and all pages are intact. There is deckle edge to the pages. The binding is clean. There is a minor bump to the front lower right corner of the front board. The spine is clean and neat.… Read more about this item
Item Price
$30.00
The Spy Who Came In From The Cold - SIGNED
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The Spy Who Came In From The Cold - SIGNED

by Le Carre, John.

Condition
Used
Published
2013
Binding
Hard Cover
Quantity Available
1
Seller
Whitley Bay, Tyne and Wear, GBR
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Item Price
$319.28

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Description:
London; Penguin Classics, 2013., 2013. Hard Cover. FIRST THUS. Fiftieth Anniversary Edition. Octavo, pp. [4], 208, [28]. Grey cloth in red and white printed dust-jacket. A Fine Copy with none of the usual sunning to the spine of the dust-jacket. Signed by John Le`Carre without dedication to title-page. Anniversary edition of the Cold War classic, with supplementary… Read more about this item
Item Price
$319.28
The Spy Who Came in from the Cold

The Spy Who Came in from the Cold

by Le Carre, John

Condition
Used - Very Good
Jacket Condition
Very Good
Edition
Book Club (BCE/BOMC)
Published
1964
Binding
Hardcover
Quantity Available
1
Seller
Whitby, Ontario, CAN
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Item Price
$29.78

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Description:
New Yorrk: Coward-McCann, Inc, 1964. Book Club (BCE/BOMC). Hardcover. Very Good/Very Good. 8vo. Book club edition. Original black cloth. 256 pp. Creasing to spine, a few smudges to cloth. Bumping to spine ends. Slight cracking to inner hinge at half-title. Dust jacket worn and creased to extremities, a few short tears and 1" tear to head of rear… Read more about this item
Item Price
$29.78
The Spy Who Came in from the Cold

The Spy Who Came in from the Cold

by Le Carre, John

Condition
Used - Very Good or Better
Jacket Condition
Very Good or Better
Edition
A First Edition, First Printing 1st Printing
Published
1963
Binding
Hardcover
Quantity Available
1
Seller
Palm Desert, California, USA
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This seller has earned a 4 of 5 Stars rating from Biblio customers.
Item Price
$175.00

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Description:
New York: Coward - McCann, Inc, 1963. A First Edition, First Printing 1st Printing. Hardcover. Very Good or Better/Very Good or Better. Very good or better in a very good or better unclipped dust jacket, Front end paper with a slight wrinkle, light edge wear to boards. Jacket with several closed and repaired tears, small chip… Read more about this item
Item Price
$175.00
The Spy Who Came In From The Cold (Fifth Impression in Unclipped Jacket)
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The Spy Who Came In From The Cold (Fifth Impression in Unclipped Jacket)

by Le Carre, John

Condition
Used - Very Good
Jacket Condition
Very Good
Edition
1st Edition
Published
1963
Quantity Available
1
Seller
Kidderminster, Worcestershire, GBR
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Item Price
$510.84

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Description:
Fifth impression, September 1963. Blue cloth boards with gilt titles to spine. Slight sunning to bottom edge of front and spine. Binding tight. Slight forward lean. Previous owners neat ink signature to front endpaper. Light spotting to rear pastedown. Jacket not clipped 18/- net with creasing to edges with small tears to spine ends and folds, spine sunned, back panel… Read more about this item
Item Price
$510.84
The Spy who came in from the Cold. [Seventh Impression]. NEAR FINE COPY IN UNCLIPPED DUSTWRAPPER

The Spy who came in from the Cold. [Seventh Impression]. NEAR FINE COPY IN UNCLIPPED DUSTWRAPPER

by LE CARRE John

Condition
Used
Published
1963
Quantity Available
1
Seller
Thakeham, West Sussex, GBR
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Item Price
$536.38

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Description:
Gollancz,, 1963. 8vo., Seventh Impression, neat contemporary inscription front free endpaper; blue cloth, gilt back, a near fine copy in unclipped dustwrapperthe latter lightly frayed at extreme head of backstrip. Published four months after the first edition. Bright copy in dustwrapper of the most influential spy novel of the twentieth century.
Item Price
$536.38
The Spy Who Came In From the Cold
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The Spy Who Came In From the Cold

by John Le Carre

Condition
Used - Very Good+
Jacket Condition
Very Good+
Edition
First Edition
Published
1963
Binding
Red author's signature on grey cloth boards. Like new comdition.
Quantity Available
1
Seller
GAHANNA, Ohio, USA
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Item Price
$55.00

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Description:
Coward-McCann, Inc., New York, 1963. Hardcover. Condition: very good+. Dust jacket condition: very good+. First edition. 256 pp. Text ivory, clean, unmarked with no prior owner attribution. Book club edition. "It is the spy novel to end all spy novels."
Item Price
$55.00