Bond book could be a bank buster

A damaged copy of the first James Bond novel Casino Royale is expected to fetch up to £10,000 at auction.

Interest in the book has increased since Daniel Craig made his acclaimed debut in the film version of Casino Royale last year.

When first published in 1953, the Ian Fleming novel sold for the equivalent of 52p.

Fleming was an unknown author at the time, and only 4,728 copies of the book hit the shelves in its first pressing.

The copy going under the hammer is in a worn condition and has the previous owner's name and the bookseller's stamp inside the front cover.

The sale by Bloomsbury Auctions also features first editions of Moonraker, From Russia With Love, The Spy Who Loved Me, The Man With The Golden Gun, and Octopussy and The Living Daylights.

Bloomsbury Auctions spokesman Richard Caton said: "The print run when it first came out was very, very small indeed.

"For any copy to survive is wonderful as they have become very rare. The film means there is even more interest."

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