The Man With The Red Tattoo Benson, Raymond (Born 1955) James Bond 007

[Spy novel] FIRST U.S. EDITION. A superb association copy, INSCRIBED BY THE AUTHOR TO HUGH HEFNER. Octavo (24 x 16cm), pp.291; [1], blank. Hardcover in jacket. Author's presentation note in his customary sharpie to title page; For / Hef - / keep the faith! // Raymond Benson. Fine condition. A significant copy; Hugh Hefner (1926-2017) was the founder and editor-in-chief of Playboy magazine, in which many of Ian Fleming's James Bond stories first appeared. According to Raymond Benson "the appearances of Fleming's work in Playboy did much to perpetuate the Bond/Playboy image in the early days of the author's fame in America" (The James Bond Bedside Companion, p.24). The tradition of Bond in Playboy was revived by Raymond Benson in the 90s when he became the official James Bond novelist. Following his recent death, some 800 volumes from the Hugh M. Hefner collection were exhibited at Rare Books LA in Pasadena. Fleming Bibliographer Jon Gilbert acquired Hefner's remaining Bond books, including a Fleming inscribed OHMSS, and several Benson volumes.