Casino Royale 70th
4th April 2023
The Folio Society will publish a limited edition hardback to celebrate the anniversary
By MI6 Staff
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Independent publisher of beautifully crafted editions, The Folio Society, will release a new, Limited Edition of Ian Fleming's Casino Royale on 4 April 2023 to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the book’s original publication. Only 750 copies of the special collector’s edition have been produced in close collaboration with the Ian Fleming estate to celebrate the first James Bond book. Released in 1953, it paved the way for a further 11 novels, two short story collections, 25 films, and a dedicated fanbase worldwide.
The book features an exclusive new introduction by award-winning author Kim Sherwood, who is expanding the world of James Bond with a new trilogy of ‘Double O’ novels that began last year with Double or Nothing. Her introduction discusses how Ian Fleming changed spy fiction forever with the creation of James Bond.
Kim Sherwood, author and introducer of the Folio Limited Edition, says: “When Ian Fleming first sat down at his not-yet-golden typewriter, it was with the intention to 'write the spy story to end all spy stories' – and he achieved it. Casino Royale reinvents the genre, and this beautiful edition celebrates its explosive style and elegance perfectly.”
The Folio Society Limited Edition features new artwork by illustrator Fay Dalton, who has combined traditional drawing methods with digital painting. It includes two striking double-page pictures and seven new black-and-white illustrations integrated throughout the text. The book is bound in leather and the cover design is a nod to one of Casino Royale’s memorable scenes, where Bond takes on his adversary Le Chiffre over a game of baccarat.
Each edition comes in an artwork-lined clamshell box and includes an exclusive limitation label signed by the artist.
James Rose, Head of Editorial at The Folio Society, says: “James Bond is a core part of our literary and cultural heritage, as well as being a central part of my own upbringing, so it is with great pride that we’ve been able to bring together the incredible talents of Fleming, Sherwood, and Dalton, as well as those of our printers and binders, to create this special 70th-anniversary edition. Here’s to another 70 years!”
Simon Ward, Publishing Director at Ian Fleming Publications Ltd, says: “2023 marks the 70th year since 007 was created and this new limited edition is as smart and impeccably tailored as the man himself. We are thrilled to see The Folio Society continuing its run of beautiful, lovingly crafted versions of Ian Fleming’s classic stories. Ian Fleming was an avid collector of books and he would surely cherish this landmark publication of his groundbreaking novel.”
The Folio Society first published Casino Royale, Ian Fleming’s first novel, in 2015 and has since published 11 other James Bond novels from the author, as well as the short story collection For Your Eyes Only, all illustrated by Fay Dalton.
The Folio Society edition of Ian Fleming’s Casino Royale, introduced by Kim Sherwood and illustrated by Fay Dalton, will be exclusively available for £500 / US $725 from foliosociety.com
Production Details
● Limited to 750 numbered copies
● Bound in leather blocked in silver, metallic red and black foils
● Set in Miller text with Folio Bold Condensed as display
● Text Printed in two colours on Natural Evolution Ivory paper
● 248 pages
● 9 full-colour illustrations including two double-page spreads
● 7 black & white illustrations
● Limitation label signed by Fay Dalton
● Gunmetal grey on page edges
● Clamshell box covered with blocked and screen-printed cloth, lined with printed cloth
● 11˝ x 7¼˝
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