Call for the Dead - John le Carré - First Edition, Gollancz 1961

The first edition of John le Carré’s celebrated debut novel, published in 1961 by Victor Gollancz. Call for the Dead introduces George Smiley, the character who would become one of the most distinctive figures in espionage literature. Le Carré’s debut is not only a remarkable spy story in its own right but also the foundation stone of a body of work that redefined the genre for the modern age.

This copy is bound in the publisher’s vivid red cloth, a hallmark of Gollancz firsts. The boards remain square and clean, the spine lettering legible with only light age-toning. Internally, the book is sound, with slight spotting to end-papers and page edges, entirely consistent with age. Lacking the dust jacket, as is common, yet still a well-preserved and highly desirable example of this elusive first printing. This copy belonged to le Carré’s agent at the time, though it bears no signature or ownership inscription.