"There are perhaps no days of our childhood we lived so fully as those we spent with a favourite book."
— Marcel Proust
Len Deighton (Leonard Cyril Deighton) | First Editions
1929
Leonard Cyril Deighton (born 18 February 1929), known as Len Deighton, is a British author. He is considered one of the top three spy novelists of his time (along with Ian Fleming and John le Carré), and is a highly acclaimed military historian, cookery writer, and graphic artist. His fictional works include: The ICPRESS File (1962), Funeral in Berlin (1964), Bomber (1970), Twinkle Twinkle Little Spy (1974), and others.The IPCRESS File, his first novel, was an instant bestseller and broke the mould of thriller writing. The Sunday Times dubbed him "the poet of the spy story". Deighton’s first protagonist - a nameless spy later christened Harry Palmer - was made famous worldwide in the iconic 1960s films which starred Michael Caine. According to writer Anthony Masters, Deighton's interest in spy stories may have been partially inspired by the arrest of Anna Wolkoff, which he witnessed as an 11-year-old boy. Wolkoff, a British subject of Russian descent, was a Nazi spy and next door neighbour of the Deightons. She was detained on 20 May 1940 and subsequently convicted of violating the Official Secrets Act for attempting to pass secret documents to the Nazis.
See below our stock of Len Deighton First Editions and signed copies.
The Orient Flight L.Z. 127-Graf Zeppelin
Maryland: Germany Philatelic Society, Inc. 1980. FIRST EDITION. Octavo. Pp.135, illustrated. Original blue leather-effect boards with gilt titles to the spine and upper. A fine copy, but for a little sunning to the extremities. Inscribed 'From Len Deighton (date)' without dedication, to the half-title. A collaboration between Deighton (writing under... More about The Orient Flight L.Z. 127-Graf Zeppelin
Billion Dollar Brain.
London: Jonathan Cape, 1966. [Cold War thriller] FIRST EDITION. Octavo (19 x 13cm), pp.312. Publisher's hardback cloth in a metallic-effect pictorial dust-wrapper designed by Raymond Hawkey. Near fine, in similar priced-clipped jacket with some inevitable nicks/marks to the thin foil. Shows well. Author's fourth novel, featuring Deighton's unnamed working-class protagonist... More about Billion Dollar Brain
Bomber.
London: Jonathan Cape, 1970. [Wartime Adventure] UNCORRECTED PROOF COPY OF THE FIRST EDITION. Octavo (22 x 14cm), pp.494; [2], blank. Publisher's lime green wrappers, in oversized textured PROOF-ONLY dust-wrapper, marked as such to rear flap. A near fine copy of the book in similar jacket, lightly worn at crown, a.... More about Bomber
Drinks-man-ship. Town's Album of Fine Wines and High Spirits.
London: Haymarket Press, 1964. [Literary Cocktail book] FIRST EDITION. Folio (33 x 24cm), pp.133; [1], blank. Publisher's quarter white cloth over green paper-covered sides, photographic dust-wrapper. Illustrated with photographs throughout. A very good copy in similar price-clipped wrapper with a few nicks, tears and creases. This is a superior example... More about Drinks-man-ship. Town's Album of Fine Wines and High Spirits
An Expensive Place to Die
Jonathan Cape, London, 1967. Cold War -era spy thriller, set in Paris. 8vo. Publisher's cloth in original dust-wrapper. Near fine, with a slight lean to book and jacket sunned to backstrip. Includes the original loose 'In Transit Docket', designed by Raymond Hawkey. FIRST EDITION. HUBIN; CRIME FICTION IV. Milward-Oliver; Len... More about An Expensive Place to Die
An Expensive Place to Die.
London: Jonathan Cape, 1967. Cold War-era spy thriller, set in Paris. FIRST EDITION. Octavo, pp.254. Publisher's cloth in original dust-wrapper, with the original loose 'In Transit Docket', designed by Raymond Hawkey. A lightly used copy in similar edgeworn jacket, slightly sun-lightened to spine panel. HUBIN; Crime Fiction IV. Milward-Oliver; Len... More about An Expensive Place to Die
An Expensive Place to Die.
London: Jonathan Cape, 1967. [Cold War spy thriller] UNCORRECTED PROOF COPY in oversized PROOF-ONLY dust-wrapper. Octavo (20 x 13cm), pp.254;[2], blank. Publisher's lime-green softcovers in jacket, with traces of the bold printed word 'ENGLISH' to extreme front edge of the flap and 'PROOF ONLY' in bold to rear with provisional... More about An Expensive Place to Die
An Expensive Place to Die.
London: Jonathan Cape, 1967. [Cold War spy thriller] UNCORRECTED PROOF COPY in oversized PROOF-ONLY dust-wrapper. Octavo (20 x 13cm), pp.254;[2] blank. Publisher's lime-green softcovers in jacket, with traces of the bold printed word 'ENGLISH' to extreme front edge of the flap and 'PROOF ONLY' in bold to rear with provisional... More about An Expensive Place to Die
Funeral in Berlin. Secret File No.3.
London: Jonathan Cape, 1964. [Cold-war spy thriller] FIRST EDITION. Octavo (19 x 13cm), pp.320. Publisher's hardcover, printed black endpapers, dust-wrapper designed by Raymond Hawkey, priced at 18s. A lightly used copy with some acceptable wear and toning, a couple of small nicks to jacket; very good. Basis for the classic... More about Funeral in Berlin. Secret File No.3
Funeral in Berlin. Secret File No.3.
London: Jonathan Cape, 1964. [Cold War thriller] UNCORRECTED PROOF COPY in oversized PROOF-ONLY dust-wrapper designed by Raymond Hawkey, priced at 18s. Octavo (20 x 13cm), pp.320. Publisher's lime-green softcovers in jacket with bold 'PROOF ONLY' text to rear flap with provisional publication date printed below. Shows some expected handling, unsupported... More about Funeral in Berlin. Secret File No.3
Funeral in Berlin. Secret File No.3.
London: Jonathan Cape, 1963. [Cold-war spy thriller] FIRST EDITION, SIGNED BY HAWKEY. Octavo (19 x 13cm), pp.320. Publisher's hardcover, printed black endpapers, dust-wrapper designed by Raymond Hawkey, priced at 18s. Very light wear to crown of spine else a clean, fine copy which appears unread. Autographed in blue ink by... More about Funeral in Berlin. Secret File No.3
Funeral in Berlin. Secret File No.3.
London: Jonathan Cape, 1964. [Cold War thriller] UNCORRECTED PROOF COPY in oversized PROOF-ONLY dust-wrapper designed by Raymond Hawkey, priced at 18s. Octavo (20 x 13cm), pp.320. Publisher's lime-green softcovers in jacket with bold 'PROOF ONLY' text to rear flap with provisional publication date printed below. Shows some expected handling, unsupported... More about Funeral in Berlin. Secret File No.3
Goodbye Mickey Mouse.
London: Hutchinson, 1982. [Wartime air adventure] FIRST EDITION. Octavo (22 x 14cm), pp.395; [5], blank. Publisher's red cloth hardcover in illustrated dust-wrapper priced at £8.50. Near fine (top edge dusty/spotted) in near fine wrapper. A popular read and certainly not a scarce book, but increasingly uncommon in anything approaching fine... More about Goodbye Mickey Mouse
Horse Under Water. Secret File No.2. A Novel by Len Deighton.
London: Jonathan Cape, 1963. [Cold War spy thriller] UNCORRECTED PROOF COPY. Octavo (19 x 13cm), pp.255; [1]. Publisher's lime green softcovers with 'greek urn' device repeated in white, titles printed in black. Inevitable spine wrinkling else a lovely fine copy which appears unread. The author's second novel, being the first... More about Horse Under Water. Secret File No.2. A Novel by Len Deighton
Horse Under Water. Secret File No.2. A Novel by Len Deighton.
London: Jonathan Cape, 1963. [Cold War spy thriller] SIGNED FIRST EDITION. Octavo (19 x 13cm), pp.255; [1]. Publisher's hardback cloth, in a pictorial dust-wrapper designed by Ray Hawkey. Plain black endpapers. With presentation note to half title; "Thanks and | best wishes | Len Deighton". Light general wear, some soiling... More about Horse Under Water. Secret File No.2. A Novel by Len Deighton
The Ipcress File.
Pennsylvania: The Franklin Library, 1988. [Cold-War thriller] FRANKLIN LIBRARY EDITION. With two illustrations by Terry Widener [front cover and frontispiece]. Octavo (22 x 15cm), pp.279; [1], blank; [1], Colophon; [1], blank. Publisher's black cloth hardcovers blocked in gilt, colour plate to upper, brick wall patterned endpapers, all edges gilt. Small... More about The Ipcress File
The Ipcress File.
London: Hodder and Stoughton, 1962. [Cold-War thriller] FIRST EDITION. Octavo (20 x 14cm), pp.224. Publisher's orange cloth in original dust-wrapper (without reviews) designed by Raymond Hawkey. Some dustiness and handling, jacket yellowed to spine and extremities, rubbed at crown. An inexpensive copy of the first state. Author's debut spy novel... More about The Ipcress File
Len Deighton's Continental Dossier. A collection of cultural, culinary, historical, spooky, grim and preposterous fact compiled by Victor and Margaret Pettitt.
London: Michael Joseph, 1968. FIRST EDITION. Octavo (22 x 15cm). Publisher's glazed photographic boards with all-over design in colour. Printed on glossy paper stock, folding cloth map at rear. A particularly fine example of an unusual 'sixties reference book, without the heavy fading to the spine that affects this title... More about Len Deighton's Continental Dossier. A collection of cultural, culinary, historical, spooky, grim...
Len Deighton's Continental Dossier. A collection of cultural, culinary, historical, spooky, grim and preposterous fact compiled by Victor and Margaret Pettitt.
London: Michael Joseph, 1968. [European culture] FIRST EDITION. Octavo (22 x 15cm), unpaginated. Publisher's glazed photographic boards with all-over design in colour. Printed on glossy paper stock, folding cloth map at rear. Lightly handled, top corners bumped, some fading to spine; a very good copy. Book Collector No.287 (pp.32-62) 'The... More about Len Deighton's Continental Dossier. A collection of cultural, culinary, historical, spooky, grim...
Len Deighton's London Dossier.
London: Jonathan Cape, 1967. [Counter-culture] UNCORRECTED PROOF COPY in oversized PROOF-ONLY dust-wrapper. Octavo (20 x 13cm), pp.328. Publisher's lime-green softcovers in jacket, with 'PROOF ONLY' in bold to rear with provisional publication date below. Unlike the published jacket, the proof wrapper is not glazed. Some minor wear to unsupported/oversize areas... More about Len Deighton's London Dossier
Only When I Larf
London: Penguin 1968 [1967]. A comic novel about three con-artists. FIRST TRADE EDITION, a paperback original. Octavo (18 x 11cm), pp.251; [5], advertisements. Publisher's photographic card covers showing some acceptable wear, spine a trifle sunned, expected toning to cheap paper. A very good copy. The true first edition following a.... More about Only When I Larf
Only When I Larf.
London: Michael Joseph, 1968. [Modern Literature] FIRST EDITION. Octavo (20 x 14cm), pp.233; [3], blank. Publisher's cloth in dust-wrapper designed by Raymond Hawkey, priced at 25s. Top edge dusty/spotted else a lovely fine copy in fine jacket. This is the scarcer hardback trade issue comprising just 9000 copies (released as... More about Only When I Larf
![Only When I Laugh [Larf]. Len DEIGHTON, born 1929](/pictures/thumb/53213.jpg?v=1550594220)
Only When I Laugh [Larf].
New York, NY: Mysterious Press, 1987. [Modern Literature] SIGNED LIMITED EDITION, also the FIRST US EDITION. Octavo (23 x 16cm), pp.241; [5], blank. Publisher's green buckram blocked in gilt to spine, pale green endpapers, matching cloth slipcase. Copy No. 173 of 250, signed by Len Deighton. Discreet price label mark... More about Only When I Laugh [Larf
![Only When I Laugh [Larf]. Len DEIGHTON, born 1929](/pictures/thumb/53659.jpg?v=1556028987)
Only When I Laugh [Larf].
New York, NY: Mysterious Press, 1987. [Modern Literature] SIGNED LIMITED EDITION, also the FIRST US EDITION. Octavo (23 x 16cm), pp.241; [5], blank. Publisher's green buckram blocked in gilt to spine, pale green endpapers, matching cloth slipcase. Copy No. 71 of 250, signed by Len Deighton. A fine copy in... More about Only When I Laugh [Larf
Spy Sinker.
New York: Harper and Row / Harper Collins, 1990. [Espionage novel] ADVANCE READING COPY of the FIRST US EDITION. Octavo (22 x 15cm), pp.332. Bound from uncorrected proofs in photographic softcovers with publication date shown as September 1990. Edges a little spotted else a very good copy. More about Spy Sinker