Casino Royale by FLEMING, Ian (1908-1964)

London: Jonathan Cape, 1953. [Spy thriller] FIRST EDITION, Second Impression, Jacket 'A' (the first edition d/w, over-printed with the Sunday Times review). Octavo (20 x 13cm), pp.218; [2], blank. Publisher's black cloth-effect paper over boards, decorated with heart motif to upper, lettered in red to spine. Pictorial dust-wrapper priced at 10/6. Some edgespotting, jacket with some chips and tears; very good. A CURIOUS ASSOCIATION COPY, from the library of the original super-yacht Calisto, R.Y.S., owned by Thomas Loel Guinness, OBE (1906-1988). A member of the wealthy brewing dynasty, Group Capt. Guinness was a business magnate, Conservative MP and decorated Battle of Britain fighter pilot. Guinness also owned the sister ship Calypso. Whilst Calisto was used as the Guinness luxury yacht, the Calypso was fitted as a marine research vessel, becoming synonymous with the famous oceanic explorer Jacques-Yves Cousteau and featuring in his movie 'The Silent World' (1956). Author Ian Fleming was a close friend of Cousteau, spent time aboard the Calypso and dived with him while researching his second James Bond novel Live and Let Die. Cousteau and the Calypso are eulogised by Fleming in his travel book Thrilling Cities (1963). The Calisto/Calypso yachts seemingly inspired Emile Largo's craft Disco Volante in Thunderball. Gilbert A1a (2.1).