Field Report: Peter Lorenz from ‘The Illustrated 007’

1. What is your favorite Chopping cover and why?

The artwork created for “From Russia With Love” is my favourite. It does set the tone for all other Bond Chopping covers to come and is highly recognizable. It conveys the content and feel of the book so well while staying away from the usual book cover clichés. And the technical execution is flawless, the wood structure in the background is just wonderful.

2. Do you own any 1st editions?

I’m lucky to have several first editions in my collection, such as the first UK edition of “Moonraker” and “From Russia With Love“. Sadly I had didn’t have enough money for the first edition of “Casino Royale” so I settled for the first edition, second printing at a Bloomsbury auction a few years back. I also like the first editions from the US hardcover versions such as “Dr No” and “Casino Royale” quite a bit.

My rarest piece might be the embossed edition of “The Man With The Golden Gun“. I bought it on eBay a few years back and I’m not sure it it’s the real thing but most experts told me it’s real.

3. What is on your literary 007 wish list?

My collection of European and US Bond books is quite comprehensive and I haven’t found anything new for quite a while. But I’m still looking for Bond books published in Asia and Africa. Sometimes I see auctions on ebay Japan for Bond books but my lack of Asian languages makes it difficult to find these editions. Love to get more of them…

“Colonel Sun”, Robert Markham (Kingsley Amis), Paperback from Japan.

4. When did you read your first Bond novel and what was it?

My first Bond novel was the Christopher Wood version of “The Spy Who Loved Me” in German which I read after seeing the film in 1977. I didn’t even know that this was not the original book but I got interested. At the age of 10 you don’t have a lot of money so I searched the flea markets for more bond books. I’m a bit hazy which the next book was but I think it was “On Her Majesty’s Secret Service” , the paperback edition by Scherz Publishers.

German James Bond Novels by Scherz, published between 1977 and 1980

5. What is your favourite Fleming Bond novel and Fleming non-fiction work?

My favourite is “On Her Majesty’s Secret Service” . I might be influenced by the film as well but the novel makes Bond a human, believable person, even more than the other books. On the non-fiction side I enjoy the “Thrilling Cities“. It’s such an interesting insight into Fleming himself and a time gone by. I’ve lived and visited a few of the cities that Fleming describes and the change is sometimes remarkable.

6. Do you have any favorite Bond dust jackets in paperback or by continuation authors?

That’s a tough one: Several! I do like the Fahey covers for their beautiful retro pulp style. Same goes for the first S wedish editions illustrated by Yrjö Edelman.

I quite like the first Gardner hardcover ones as well.