First edition Hardback

Dr No (1958)

Ian Fleming · Jonathan Cape, London

Publisher Jonathan Cape Year 1958

Identification points are listed only where two independent sources agree. Last reviewed 18 Oct 2026.

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In short

Quick answer

How do I identify a Dr No first edition?
Check these points. Upper board: Plain, with no silhouette. Jacket, spine: Fleming's name printed in black. Jacket, front flap: Priced 13s 6d. Each point is confirmed by at least two independent sources.
Who published the Dr No first edition?
Jonathan Cape, London, in 1958, in hardback.
What decides the price
  • It is the first edition, which is the one collectors want.
  • The first printing is told from later ones by 6 point of issues listed below.
  • The original dust jacket carries much of the price for a book of this age; its condition matters as much as the book's.
  • Condition is graded separately for book and jacket, from Fine down to Poor.

We are recording sales for this edition. Add it to your collection and we will tell you when a figure is ready.

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Identification

How to identify this edition

Dr No was published by Jonathan Cape on 31 March 1958 in Pat Marriott's jacket, priced 13s 6d. First impressions come in two bindings: plain black cloth, or the same cloth with a dancing girl silhouette stamped in brown on the upper board.

What to check:

  • Binding: plain black cloth, or black cloth with the brown silhouette.
  • Jacket: Pat Marriott's design, priced 13s 6d.
  • First issue jacket: Fleming's name on the spine is printed in black. A later jacket prints it in white.

Most dealers treat the plain binding as the earlier state, and it is reported to be the scarcer of the two, but the numbering and priority are disputed, so we list both as the first impression. Expect the plain binding to command a premium.

Beware the First Edition Library facsimiles, which copy the binding, text and jacket, and modern facsimile jackets put on genuine books. With every Fleming first, ask whether the jacket is unclipped and belongs to the impression, because married jackets are common.

Sources: Sotheby's, Bonhams, Jonkers, Heritage Auctions, Bauman Rare Books, John Atkinson Books and collecting-fleming.com, following Gilbert's Ian Fleming bibliography.

Printing by printing

Printings and states

First impression (plain binding)

1958

At a glance

Copyright page
First published 1958
Jacket price
13s 6d
Binding
Black cloth, spine lettered in silver, no silhouette on the upper board.
Jacket
By Pat Marriott. On the first issue jacket Fleming's name on the spine is printed in black; the later jacket has it in white.

Points of issue

  • upper boardPlain, with no silhouette→ plain binding state
  • jacket, spineFleming's name printed in black→ first issue jacket
  • jacket, front flapPriced 13s 6d→ first issue jacket
Check my copy Answer for each point and we will tell you whether yours is the first impression.
  1. Upper board: Plain, with no silhouette
  2. Jacket, spine: Fleming's name printed in black
  3. Jacket, front flap: Priced 13s 6d

Has a number line? Read it with the number line decoder.

Watch out for: traps and later printings

The First Edition Library facsimile set copies the bindings, text and jackets; modern facsimile jackets are also often put on genuine books. Check that the jacket is unclipped and belongs to the impression.

Check for a book club edition · Read a number line

Notes

Published 31 March 1958. Most dealers treat the plain binding as the first state, but numbering and priority are disputed, so both states are listed as the first impression.

Value guide

No values yet
Values by condition appear once we have estimates or recorded sales for this printing.

Price history

Recorded sales of Dr No, First impression £0£500£1k£1.5k 20182019202020212022202320242025 29 Sep 2022: £1.3k (Fine and Near Fine) 30 Mar 2017: £280 (Very Good)28 Mar 2019: £600 (Very Good)27 Mar 2020: £600 (Very Good)25 Jan 2024: £1k (Very Good)27 Mar 2025: £900 (Very Good)04 Dec 2025: £360 (Very Good) 19 Nov 2020: £480 (Good, Fair or no jacket)19 Sep 2024: £320 (Good, Fair or no jacket) Mar 2017 median: £280Feb 2019 median: £600Feb 2020 median: £600Nov 2020 median: £480Aug 2022 median: £1.3kFeb 2024 median: £1kAug 2024 median: £320Feb 2025 median: £900Nov 2025 median: £360
Fine and Near FineVery GoodGood, Fair or no jacketQuarterly median
Show as a table
04 Dec 2025£360vg
27 Mar 2025£900vg
19 Sep 2024£320nj
25 Jan 2024£1kvg
29 Sep 2022£1.3knf
19 Nov 2020£480good
27 Mar 2020£600vg
28 Mar 2019£600vg
30 Mar 2017£280vg

Recent sales

DateConditionSourcePrice
4 Dec 2025Very GoodAuction house£360
27 Mar 2025Very GoodAuction house£900
19 Sep 2024Without jacketAuction house£320
25 Jan 2024Very GoodAuction house£1,000
29 Sep 2022Near FineAuction house£1,300
19 Nov 2020GoodAuction house£480
27 Mar 2020Very GoodAuction house£600
28 Mar 2019Very GoodAuction house£600
30 Mar 2017Very GoodAuction house£280
I own this: add to my collection Want this

First impression (silhouette binding)

1958

At a glance

Copyright page
First published 1958
Jacket price
13s 6d
Binding
Black cloth, spine lettered in silver, with a dancing girl silhouette stamped in brown on the upper board.
Jacket
By Pat Marriott. On the first issue jacket Fleming's name on the spine is printed in black; the later jacket has it in white.

Points of issue

  • upper boardDancing girl silhouette stamped in brown→ silhouette binding state
  • jacket, spineFleming's name printed in black→ first issue jacket
  • jacket, front flapPriced 13s 6d→ first issue jacket
Check my copy Answer for each point and we will tell you whether yours is the first impression.
  1. Upper board: Dancing girl silhouette stamped in brown
  2. Jacket, spine: Fleming's name printed in black
  3. Jacket, front flap: Priced 13s 6d

Has a number line? Read it with the number line decoder.

Watch out for: traps and later printings

The First Edition Library facsimile set copies the bindings, text and jackets; modern facsimile jackets are also often put on genuine books. Check that the jacket is unclipped and belongs to the impression.

Check for a book club edition · Read a number line

Notes

Published 31 March 1958. Most dealers treat the plain binding as the first state, but numbering and priority are disputed, so both states are listed as the first impression.

I own this: add to my collection Want this
Questions collectors ask

Frequently asked questions

How do I identify a Dr No first edition?

Check these points. Upper board: Plain, with no silhouette. Jacket, spine: Fleming's name printed in black. Jacket, front flap: Priced 13s 6d. Each point is confirmed by at least two independent sources.

Who published the Dr No first edition?

Jonathan Cape, London, in 1958, in hardback.

Sources

Where these facts come from

  • Bonhams sale 30728 lot 193
  • Bauman Rare Books
  • Raptis Rare Books
  • Heritage Auctions
  • John Atkinson Books, 007 Heaven guide. Dealer and auction descriptions quoting Jon Gilbert, Ian Fleming: The Bibliography (2012)

Points of issue are listed only where at least two independent sources agree. Last reviewed 18 October 2026. Reviewed by Harriet Ellis; read how we check facts.

Related

More first editions by Ian Fleming

Casino RoyaleJonathan Cape, 1953Live and Let DieJonathan Cape, 1954MoonrakerJonathan Cape, 1955Diamonds Are ForeverJonathan Cape, 1956From Russia, With LoveJonathan Cape, 1957GoldfingerJonathan Cape, 1959
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