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

> **Quick answer.** A first edition of Thunderball by Ian Fleming (Jonathan Cape, 1961) is identified by: Cape first, published 1961 (Gilbert A9a); dark brown/black cloth, gilt spine, with a skeletal hand embossed on the front board. UK Cape (1961) precedes the US Viking edition (1961), so the UK printing is the true first.

**Checklist — a true first has these:**
- Cape first, published 1961 (Gilbert A9a); dark brown/black cloth, gilt spine, with a skeletal hand embossed on the front board
- First-issue Richard Chopping jacket with its printed price; the first-state jacket shows the misprint 'Sidney' for 'Sydney' on the rear flap
- Verso carries a single 'First published 1961' line
- Publisher imprint reads Jonathan Cape
- Not a book-club edition (see below)

| | |
|---|---|
| Author | Ian Fleming |
| Publisher | Jonathan Cape |
| Year | 1961 |
| True first | UK edition |
| Format | Hardcover (trade) |
| Key point | Cape first, published 1961 (Gilbert A9a); dark brown/black cloth, gilt spine, with a skeletal hand embossed on the front board |
| Book-club edition exists? | Yes |

## Points of issue
Cape first, published 1961 (Gilbert A9a); dark brown/black cloth, gilt spine, with a skeletal hand embossed on the front board. First-issue Richard Chopping jacket with its printed price; the first-state jacket shows the misprint 'Sidney' for 'Sydney' on the rear flap. Verso carries a single 'First published 1961' line.

## Is this the true first?
UK Cape (1961) precedes the US Viking edition (1961), so the UK printing is the true first. The novel is tied to the contested film-rights litigation involving Kevin McClory.

## Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Reprints reset; later states add impression lines; book-club copies lack the priced jacket.

## Source
New Mexico Literacy Project — Is *Thunderball* by Ian Fleming a first edition? https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/first-edition/thunderball
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.