For Special Services. James Bond 007.

GARDNER, John (1926-2007).

London: Jonathan Cape and Hodder and Stoughton, 1982. [Spy novel] FIRST EDITION, 'SAAB' PROMOTIONAL/MEDIA PACK with wraparound advertising band. Octavo (20 x 13cm), pp.254; [1], afterword; [1], blank. Publisher's cloth in pictorial dust-jacket priced at £6.95. With accompanying ephemera; large round illustrated sticker, promo photo with technical specs printed to reverse, two-sided illustrated dealership flyer and a unique illustrated belly band. Clean and fresh throughout. A rare promotional copy, from the collection of bibliographer Jon Gilbert. The first edition release of John Gardner's For Special Services (1982) was accompanied by unique corporate and literary promotional items due to the highly publicised partnership between the James Bond franchise and Saab-Scania. The flyer features stylized "Bondesque" layouts of the 900 Turbo which showcased the vehicle's aircraft-inspired engineering next to promotional imagery for the novel. Promo copies of the hardback included an exclusive wrap-around sash, some of which found their way onto unsold stocks of the first book 'Licence Renewed' (1981), in which Bond's SAAB 900 Turbo (the 'Silver Beast') had debuted. The full press kit however was produced for the 1982 publication. The book's printed acknowledgements detail the link-up with SAAB (GB) and the jacket flap mentions Bond's latest energy-conserving vehicle. A seldom-seen collection of Bondiana. Item #76363

Gilbert, p.613.

Price: £1,750.00