Casino Royale: James Bond 007: MINT UNOPENED 'BENTLEY' LIMITED EDITION by Ian Fleming - 2013: english

'Surround yourself with human beings, my dear James. They are easier to fight for than principles'

In Casino Royale, the first of Fleming's 007 adventures, a game of cards is James Bond's only chance to bring down the desperate SMERSH agent Le Chiffre. But Bond soon discovers that there is far more at stake than money.

From the hand-bound beluga leather casing to distinctive Bentley features such as hand-stitched embroidery and silver foil page edges, this special edition of Casino Royale is produced with only the very finest materials. Its striking red, white and black colouring is a nod to the gambling theme of Fleming's first novel, where Bond famously takes on his adversary, Le Chiffre, over a game of baccarat.

A special feature of this edition is the bespoke set of playing cards, hidden within a secret compartment. The book is presented in an elegant leather clamshell case, with both case and special edition book are bound in beluga coloured leather, sourced from the tannery in Italy which provides hides for Bentley's interiors. Using Bentley's craftsmanship, this edition features the iconic double stitching and signature winged Bentley logo – all hand stitched on the leather casing. Bentley's trademark knurling adorns the metal spine. This feature is inspired by the Bentley steel tread plate.

Each book has a limitation marque with Ian Fleming's signature, reflecting the plate you would find on a Bentley engine. Throughout each book are evocative brush illustrations by the Award winning illustrator Damian Gascoigne.

About the Author: Ian Lancaster Fleming was born in London in 1908. His first job was at Reuters news agency after which he worked briefly as a stockbroker before working in Naval Intelligence during the Second World War. His first novel, Casino Royale, was published in 1953 and was an instant success. Fleming went on to write thirteen other Bond books as well as two works of non-fiction and the children's classic Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. The Bond books have sold over sixty million copies and earned praise from figures such as Raymond Chandler who called Fleming 'the most forceful and driving writer of thrillers in England' and President Kennedy who named From Russia with Love as one of his favourite books. The books inspired a hugely successful series of film adaptations which began in 1962 with the release of Dr No, starring Sean Connery as 007. Fleming was married to Anne Rothermere with whom he had a son, Caspar. He died in 1964.