The points of issue
True first is the 1953 Jonathan Cape UK HARDCOVER (first Bond). Caution title for paperback collectors. The first US paperback was Popular Library, retitled 'You Asked for It' (1955); the first US hardcover was Macmillan (1954). Cape first has the correct first-state jacket and no later-printing statements.
Is this the true first?
Caution: the UK Cape hardcover is the true first; the US Popular Library paperback ('You Asked for It,' 1955) is a retitled reprint and the first US paperback appearance.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Distinguish the Cape hardcover first from book-club editions and from the retitled US paperbacks; the 'You Asked for It' title flags the US paperback reprint.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Casino Royale a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: True first is the 1953 Jonathan Cape UK HARDCOVER (first Bond). Caution title for paperback collectors. The first US paperback was Popular Library, retitled 'You Asked for It' (1955); the first US hardcover was Macmillan (1954). Cape first has the correct first-state jacket and no later-printing statements.
How do I tell the first printing from a later one?
Check the copyright page for the publisher's first-printing convention and confirm the points above. Caution: the UK Cape hardcover is the true first; the US Popular Library paperback ('You Asked for It,' 1955) is a retitled reprint and the first US paperback appearance.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Distinguish the Cape hardcover first from book-club editions and from the retitled US paperbacks; the 'You Asked for It' title flags the US paperback reprint.
I have a first edition of Casino Royale — what should I do?
If you're clearing books, New Mexico Literacy Project offers free pickup in Albuquerque, any condition, and makes sure collectible copies aren't lost. To sell, see the author's collecting guide. Either way, nothing valuable ends up in a landfill.