Overview
This is a first U. S. edition, first printing of William Boyd's 2013 James Bond novel, 'Solo'. Authorized by Ian Fleming Publications, the book features a striking optical-art style dust jacket with vertical gold and black lines.
Identification
Solo: A James Bond Novel by William Boyd, First U.S. Edition
Photo reference
2 uploaded photos
Story
William Boyd is an acclaimed British novelist who was officially commissioned by Ian Fleming Publications to write a continuation James Bond novel. 'Solo', published in 2013, returns the character to a classic 1969 setting. The U. S. edition was published by HarperCollins and features a distinct optical-art dust jacket design. The secondary market for modern James Bond continuation novels is steady but highly saturated.
Maker / Origin
Unattributed
Condition & Value
The valuation assumes the book is in Very Good to Like New condition, consistent with the seller's description of a highly collectible copy. For modern first editions, value is highly dependent on a pristine dust jacket without edge wear, unbumped boards, and clean, unmarked pages.
Full Research
See what it's actually worth.
Sold comps, value drivers, and venue guidance pulled from recent auction results.
Market Analysis
The secondary market for modern James Bond continuation novels is steady but highly saturated. Because these books are heavily marketed and printed in large quantities, standard first editions rarely appreciate beyond their original retail price. Buyers are typically franchise completionists or casual readers, and inventory moves best on broad online marketplaces.
Value Drivers
▲ Confirmed first U. S. edition, first printing (number line ending in '1') establishes baseline collectibility.
▲ Presence of the original, striking optical-art style dust jacket.
▲ Enduring popularity of the James Bond franchise ensures a consistent, if modest, buyer pool.
Concerns
▼ High initial print runs for mainstream thrillers severely limit scarcity premiums.
▼ Unverified page edges — the presence of a publisher's remainder mark (a sharpie dot or line on the bottom edge) would drop the book to reading-copy value.
Best Venue
List on broad secondary marketplaces like eBay or Amazon. Price at $18-$20 if you are willing to wait for a collector seeking a pristine first printing, or price closer to $10-$12 for a faster sale to a general reader. Ensure listing photos clearly show the copyright page's full number line and the crisp corners of the dust jacket.
Upside Potential
If the book is discovered to be signed or inscribed by the author, William Boyd, the value range would shift significantly higher, typically into the $50-$100 tier for authenticated signatures.
▾Also found — market-range context
Related comps outside the valuation band· 2 comps
Surfaced during research but not used to anchor the valuation — wrong form, species, era, or no published price. Shown so the market range around this item is visible.
Also found — market-range context
Related comps outside the valuation band· 2 comps
- Rare Book CellarSOLO; A James Bond NovelLink could not be verified.$42
- Solo: A James Bond NovelSoftcover edition, whereas the subject is a collectible first edition hardcover.$10