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A Small Town in Germany by John le Carré (First Edition, Hardcover), 1968. 🕵️‍♂️🇩🇪📜

A Small Town in Germany by John le Carré (First Edition, Hardcover), 1968. 🕵️‍♂️🇩🇪📜

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1. Introduction 📜🔍🏛️

A Small Town in Germany by John le Carré is a first edition published in 1968 by Coward-McCann, Inc. This book is a work of Cold War espionage fiction. The unique illustrated cover is a visual representation of the book's themes.


2. About the Book 📖✍️✨

This is an espionage novel that does not feature le Carré's protagonist, George Smiley. The novel follows Alan Turner, a Foreign Office investigator sent to Bonn to find a missing official and secret files. The story explores themes of political intrigue, moral compromise, and the search for truth.


3. About the Artist/Author/Maker ✍️🏛️

David John Moore Cornwell (1931–2020), who wrote under the pseudonym John le Carré, was a former British intelligence officer. The title page drawing was done by Dick Dodge, an American illustrator.


4. Historical/Political Era Context 🌍🕰️📜

Published in 1968, this book is a product of a specific moment in the Cold War. It explores the political anxieties of the late 1960s, specifically the fear of resurgent nationalism and the relationship between Britain and Germany.

The book's focus on moral ambiguity and the psychological toll of espionage influenced the genre of spy fiction.


5. The Ideal Collector 💡🧐🏛️

This book is for a collector of Cold War spy fiction, a fan of John le Carré, or a bibliophile specializing in 20th-century American and British literature. Its status as a first edition and its unique illustrated cover design will appeal to a collector who seeks a piece of literary art.


6. Value & Rarity 💎✨🏛️

This edition of A Small Town in Germany is a rare first edition. Its value is derived from its status as a work by a noted author. The book does not have a dust jacket, but the unique illustrated cloth cover makes it a distinctive and valuable item.


7. Condition 🔎📚✨

The book is a well-preserved example.

  • The hardcover binding is in good condition.

  • The light blue cloth is faded and discolored, especially on the spine.

  • The inside cover pages exhibit foxing.

  • The binding is solid, and the pages are clean.


8. Fun Facts & Unique Features 🤓📜🤩

  • The book's illustrated cover with its hotel luggage stamps for Cairo, London, and Paris is a unique design element that references the book's themes.

  • The author, John le Carré, was an actual spy for both MI5 and MI6, a fact that influenced his novels.


9. Supporting Information 🏷️📦💰

  • Title: A Small Town in Germany

  • Author: John le Carré

  • Illustrator: Dick Dodge

  • Year: 1968

  • Publisher: Coward-McCann, Inc.

  • Place of Origin: New York, New York, USA

  • Format: Hardcover

  • Edition: First Edition

  • Rarity: Rare

  • Transcription: This book does not contain any personal inscriptions or unique markings.

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