Pan | Painted Series | From Russia With Love 6th edition
Part of the directors series the green band shows Ralp Vernon-Hunt (the MD of Pan books) posing as James Bond
05. From Russia With Love
Author : Ian FlemingPublisher : Pan / Great Pan
Printer(s) :
- Hazel Watson and Viney Ltd. Aylesbury, Bucks
Series : (Great) Pan painted series
Edition : 6th
Year : 1961 (first published with this artwork)
Country published : UK
Artwork designer : Pat Owen
General Notes
The green band at the bottom of the cover shows Ralph Vernon-Hunt as Bond. These editions are known as the “Directors” covers as Vernon-Hunt was the managing director of Pan books at the time. As well as being a model for Bond and MD of Pan books, Vernon-Hunt was a WW2 fighter ace. Casino Royale, Moonraker, Live and Let Die, Diamonds are Forever, From Russia with Love, Dr No and Goldfinger were all issued with different coloured bands showing Vernon-Hunt. Getting a complete set of these is not easy with Dr No perhaps the most difficult to find. Pan seemed to like their cover artists to remain anonymous, Pat Owen signed this one on the bottom right (just above the word dishonour). For the next printing the band was changed from green to yellow and expanded slightly so it covered the signature.Editions and pricing variants found with this artwork
6th printing 1961 with Pan G229 to spine. Copies have been found with:- 2’6 printed to front cover.
- 2’6 label to front cover
- Unpriced