First edition, first printing. Small octavo, pp 222. Bound in blue cloth covered hard boards with gilt lettering to the spine and in the supplied dust jacket, unclipped (18/- net). Author’s third book and his break-through novel which became an international best seller. It was following publication of this book that he left MI6 and became a full time writer. Book is in Very Good condition, binding tight, fading to the cloth at the bottom 2cm of the spine, book is clean internally without spotting or foxing, edges of page block browned, and there is a previous owner’s name and date (1963) to the ffep. The supplied jacket is Near Fine, bright and unfaded and with a closed tear to the bottom of the front turn-in.