SPYCATCHER (Scarce Irish / Australian true first impression with variant red boards)

Peter Wright with Paul Greengrass

ISBN 10: 0855610980 / ISBN 13: 9780855610982

Published by William Heinemann Ltd., 85 Abinger Street, Richmond, Victoria 3121, Australia, 1987

About this Item

First impression of the true first edition - the scarce original Australian/Irish printing, with 'William Heinemann: Australia' printed on the title-page and with 'Printed by Future Print Ltd., Dublin' on the printer's page. This is the true first edition, printed in Ireland for Heinemann, Australia in order to circumvent the United Kingdom's legal injunction. The front panel of the dustwrapper also has the correct publisher's advert banner in red with the words: "At Last! The Spy Book Of The Century". The book was banned by the Prime Minister, Margaret Thatcher because of the court case against Peter Wright. This rare first impression of the true first edition was on sale in England only, for one day, on the Sunday, the day prior to the injunction taking effect. Consequently, there are no photographs printed in this first impression, as called for, as the printing was extremely rushed. Later impressions of the first edition include the photographs at the rear of the book, and later printings still have the photographs printed in the middle of the book. Interestingly, this rare first printing also had variant bindings, this being red - others being grey-green or burgundy-brown, presumably as printers did not have enough stock of one colour of boards for the rushed print-run to beat the injunction and used whatever stock they had to hand. ***Near fine in red cloth-covered boards with gilt titles to the spine. The boards are clean and unmarked. Head and tail of spine very slightly creased. Page block edges clean. No reading lean to the binding. Internally near fine with no inscriptions. Pages clean. ***In a near fine dustwrapper, which has not been price-clipped, retaining the original publisher's printed price of IR£14.95 net. Head ans tail of spine and edges of dustwrapper slightly creased and rubbed. No creases, chips or tears. No fading. Dustwrapper clean and bright. ***240mm x 156mm. 392 pages including Index at the back of the book. ***'No book this century has attracted more attention before publication than "Spycatcher". It made front page headlines around the world as the British government tried desperately to suppress Peter Wright's explosive revelations. ***'Every page of this remarkable book startles with its frankness. Here for the first time is the full, insider's story of how Peter Wright and is MI5 colleagues bugged and burgled their way through friendly and unfriendly embassies across London; of the MI5 plot to destabilize Harold Wilson's government; of the suspicion that the head of MI5 himself was a Soviet agent. "Spycatcher" tells with extraordinary honesty and detail the devastating story of a government agency which operated outside property and the law, where the only rule was the 11th commandment - "Thou shalt not get caught." It is written with the full authority of a man who rose to be an assistant Director of MI5 and was acknowledged to be its most brilliant and innovative technical officer.' (Quote taken from the front flap of the dustwrapper) ***First impression of the true first edition, complete in its original dustwrapper. All issue-points of the true first edition are present, as called for (except for the original Irish price on front dustwrapper flap which has been price-clipped); no photographs; printed in Ireland; published in Australia; and the red banner: "At Last! The Spy Book of the Century" on front panel of dustwrapper. A variant first impression of the true first edition with red boards. Of interest to the collector of espionage first editions. A landmark book. Scarce in this first state. ***For all our books, postage is charged at cost, allowing for packaging: any shipping rates indicated on ABE are an average only: we will reduce the P & P charge where appropriate - please contact us for postal rates for heavier books and sets etc.***.

Seller Inventory # 3051x

Bibliographic Details

• Title: SPYCATCHER (Scarce Irish / Australian true first impression with variant red boards)
• Publisher: William Heinemann Ltd., 85 Abinger Street, Richmond, Victoria 3121, Australia
• Publication Date: 1987
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0855610980
• ISBN 13: 9780855610982
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition: First Edition
• Printing: First Impression
• Condition: Near Fine
• Dust Jacket Condition: Near Fine
• Seller catalogs:
  • First Editions
  • Political & Social History

About this title

Synopsis

Spycatcher: The Candid Autobiography of a Senior Intelligence Officer Wright, Peter