SKU: 11135849591

"You Asked For It (Casino Royale)" 1955 FLEMING, Ian

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"You Asked For It (Casino Royale)" 1955 FLEMING, IanFLEMING, Ian[128] pp. Popular Library19556 7 8" x 4 3 8"You Asked for It was simply the title given to the very first U. S. paperback version of Casino Royale, the book that introduced British super spy James Bond, Agent 007, to the world. The original hardcover edition was brought out in Great Britain back in 1953 by publisher Jonathan Cape. Two years later, though, when New York based American Popular Library arranged to release a cheaper, softcover

FLEMING, Ian

[128] pp.

Popular Library

1955

6 7/8" x 4 3/8"

You Asked for It was simply the title given to the very first U.S. paperback version of Casino Royale, the book that introduced British super-spy James Bond, Agent 007, to the world.

The original hardcover edition was brought out in Great Britain back in 1953 by publisher Jonathan Cape. Two years later, though, when New York-based American Popular Library arranged to release a cheaper, softcover version in the States, the company’s marketing geniuses griped that the name Casino Royale wasn’t sufficiently saleable. (“Apparently, it was feared that American readers would not be able to pronounce ‘Royale,’” quips a piece at CommanderBond.net). They wanted something different, a replacement that was more in keeping with the tough-guy stories then flooding U.S. bookstores. “Fleming’s suggestions for a new title, The Double-O Agent and The Deadly Gamble, were disregarded, “in favor of You Asked The novel was subtitled ‘Casino Royale’ and made reference to secret agent 007 as ‘Jimmy Bond’ on the back cover” (left). Did the Popular Library honchos really believe 007 needed such a nickname to appeal to often folksier Yankee readers?*

CommanderBond.net calls the You Asked for It front “a wonderful piece of Bondamania. ... [I]ts illustrated cover features an alluring Vesper Lynd with a leering ‘Jimmy’ pouring a drink. The spine of the book reads, ‘She played a man’s game with a woman’s weapon.’ One would hardly recognize this book as an adventure of the suave sophisticated 007 of today. This remains a very scarce book, and one that is passionately sought after by Bond fans.

So who painted You Asked for It’s pulpish jacket? Well, there’s a mystery for you. According to novelist Bill Crider, who owns a copy of the paperback, “There’s absolutely no signature on that cover, nor is there any credit given to the artist on the inside.” Hoping for a more definitive answer, and because he’s been helpful to me before in solving this sort of puzzle, I dashed off an e-mail inquiry to Art Scott, the co-author of a comprehensive illustrated bibliography, The Paperback Covers of Robert McGinnis (2001), and a contributor to a forthcoming book from Donald M. Grant about McGinnis’ portraits of women. Alas, he couldn’t identify the artist here either. “[B]ut my best guess,” Scott wrote, “would be Ray Johnson, who did a lot of Pop [Library] covers in that era, and it looks like his style.” Johnson’s other works include the fronts of The World in the Evening, by Christopher Isherwood (1955); Mr. Trouble, by William Ard (1956); Love in Suburbia, by John Conway (1960); This Is My Night, by Richard Deming (1961); and Some Die Hard, by Nick Quarry (1961).

Fortunately, the rebranding of Fleming’s debut thriller was short-lived. Popular Library’s You Asked for It (released in April 1955) was the only edition to carry that title. Signet Books picked up the U.S. rights to the James Bond novels after 1960 and restored the Casino Royale name.
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SKU: 11135849591

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Martin V.
Belleville, US
★★★★★ 5
Modern luxury with summer fabric that performs above its price!
Color: Beige, Size: 14, Color: Beige, Size: 14
Wow! My son wore it for Easter Sunday and this suit fits the bill! The linen material is spot on--not too heavy and not too light especially since the weather is warming up now. The jacket is quality made--the design is modern executive, the stitches are strong no flaws to note. The pants are tad bit longer but that's okay, build quality is also great. The white shirt is decent and matches well with the rest of the set. The bow tie and tie itself is a great complimentary to the set, though optional to wear. The whole set just has that quality you would really look for in the price range you would want to pay. Overall, best value for for the, wear right outside the bag, maybe a light ironing otherwise it's perfect! I highly recommend it, no complaints here very happy with this suit!
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Reviewed in the United States on April 5, 2026
A
Ariel B.
West Palm Beach, US
★★★★★ 4
Heavy linen character, but a beautifully tailored suit!
Color: Beige, Size: 4, Color: Beige, Size: 4
This is a really nice linen suit! The jacket is beautifully made and well-tailored, with a fun speckled texture that has lots of pretty color variation (we ordered the beige). When I placed it side by side with a similar linen suit from another brand, the difference in the linen texture was really noticeable — this had a much stronger linen character that stands out! It has three useful pockets on the outside of the jacket, which is great for little hands. The only downside is that one of the inside pockets is just for show (faux), which was a bit surprising and somewhat disappointing for my little guy. The pants have pockets too, but they aren’t very deep — perfect for small treasures, but not much more. The pants are made from a lighter, thinner single-layer linen compared to the fully lined, double-layer jacket, which makes sense for comfort and easy movement. The pants didn’t come with a front crease ironed in, so you’ll want to press one yourself. The linen did pick up some creases from being folded in the package, but it doesn’t seem quite as wrinkly as some other linen fabrics I’ve tried. Still, like most linen clothes, especially for boys, the pants will need occasional ironing to keep them looking neat and crisp, especially after a day of play and general wear. The structured, lined jacket stays looking smoother and more put-together with less effort. It also came with a bow tie, a neck tie, and a tuxedo-style white shirt as extras. The ties aren’t great quality — they’d work fine for quick photos but probably won’t hold up to much actual wear. The formal white shirt feels a bit funny paired with the casual linen suit, but I don’t mind at all. We already have white shirts that we prefer, so we’ll use those instead. For us, the extras are really just bonus items we won’t plan on using. Overall, it’s a handsome little suit that’s perfect for special occasions like weddings, family photos, or holiday events. My kid looked adorable in it! The stronger linen texture on the jacket gives it a premium feel that I really like. Just be ready for a bit of extra care with the pants to keep everything sharp.
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Reviewed in the United States on April 8, 2026
C
chzgr8er
Charlottesville, US
★★★★★ 5
Great suit set
Color: Light Grey, Size: 4
It is incredibly attractive and includes everything a young child needs for a special occasion. The material is a 75% polyester and 25% linen blend, and the outer fabric feels remarkably smooth. Its unstructured design allows for an attractive, natural drape, and the blend conveniently allows for machine washing at home. As is typical with linen-based materials, the fabric can be naturally stiff and prone to wrinkling, so I recommend ironing or steaming it before use. The lightweight feel makes it an excellent choice for the spring, summer, and fall months. Overall, this suit offers exceptional value for the price.
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Reviewed in the United States on April 12, 2026
J
Verified Purchase
Joseph
Massapequa, US
★★★★★ 5
A good First Communion suit
Size: 6, Color: White, Size: 6, Color: White
This suit looks and feels really nice even though it’s not 100% linen. My son is an average size 7 year old, but I got a size 6 so that the fit would be nice and snug and not loose and baggy. It was the right choice. Comes with a bow tie which is nice, a tie (which is very cheap and poorly made) and a pocket square.
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Reviewed in the United States on April 29, 2026
C
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Cheila
Cuba, US
★★★★★ 5
Very stylish💜💜
Size: 6, Color: Light Blue, Size: 6, Color: Light Blue
This little suit for boys is very stylish. I bought it for my grandson for a wedding occasion and it looked very nice. The fabric is not too thick so for the summer wedding it was great. I pick the blue color and it looked fantastic!
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Reviewed in the United States on March 16, 2026

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