# Is "Moonraker" by Ian Fleming a First Edition?

> **Quick answer.** A first edition of Moonraker by Ian Fleming (Jonathan Cape, 1955) is identified by: Cape first, published 7 April 1955 (Gilbert A3a); black cloth stamped in silver; first-issue jacket with its printed price on both flaps. UK Cape (1955) is the true first.

**Checklist — a true first has these:**
- Cape first, published 7 April 1955 (Gilbert A3a); black cloth stamped in silver; first-issue jacket with its printed price on both flaps
- The earliest state shows the printing error 'shoo' (missing final t in 'shoot') at the foot of page 10; this was corrected to 'shoot' during the first impression
- Verso carries a single 'First published 1955' line
- Publisher imprint reads Jonathan Cape
- Not a book-club edition (see below)

| | |
|---|---|
| Author | Ian Fleming |
| Publisher | Jonathan Cape |
| Year | 1955 |
| True first | UK edition |
| Format | Hardcover (trade) |
| Key point | Cape first, published 7 April 1955 (Gilbert A3a); black cloth stamped in silver; first-issue jacket with its printed price on both flaps |
| Book-club edition exists? | Yes |

## Points of issue
Cape first, published 7 April 1955 (Gilbert A3a); black cloth stamped in silver; first-issue jacket with its printed price on both flaps. The earliest state shows the printing error 'shoo' (missing final t in 'shoot') at the foot of page 10; this was corrected to 'shoot' during the first impression. Verso carries a single 'First published 1955' line.

## Is this the true first?
UK Cape (1955) is the true first. The US Macmillan edition followed later in 1955; a subsequent US issue appeared under the retitled form 'Too Hot to Handle'. The UK first under the original title is preferred.

## Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Later impressions add printing lines; book-club copies lack the original priced jacket.

## Source
New Mexico Literacy Project — Is *Moonraker* by Ian Fleming a first edition? https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/first-edition/moonraker
CC BY 4.0. Part of the Canonical First-Edition Points of Issue dataset (https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/api/first-edition-titles.json). Last reviewed 2026-07-04.