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Why do UK/US Bond novel releases have different cover art?

joshdeese93joshdeese93
in Literary 007 Posts: 352
I've always found it interesting how Bond novels have different cover art in the U.K./European and U.S./North American markets. Moreover, I've seemed to prefer the U.K. versions better. (For example, Carte Blanche, Solo, Trigger Mortis, Forever and a Day).

Does anyone know exactly why this is done?

Comments

  • JeremyBondonJeremyBondon Seeking out odd jobs with Oddjob @Tangier
    Posts: 1,318
    Different audiences different tastes. It's the same around the world.
  • DragonpolDragonpol https://thebondologistblog.blogspot.com
    edited September 2018 Posts: 18,344
    It's quite simple: there are different publishers of the Bond novels in the UK and the UK and indeed beyond in other markets around the world. There are even different publishers between the hardback and paperback editions, leading to even more variations in cover art. Each publisher has their own cover designers either in-house or commissioned to do a specific cover.
  • RichardTheBruceRichardTheBruce I'm motivated by my Duty.
    Posts: 13,927
    I like the UK hardcover editions better, too, @joshdeese93.

    Also want to add there are even examples of differences in the titles for UK and US.

    COLD versus COLD FALL for the John Gardner novel.
    220px-ColdNovelCover.jpgcoldfalluscover.jpg

    Nobody Lives For Ever (later covers Nobody Lives Forever). Nobody Lives Forever.
    220px-NobodyLivesForeverFirst.jpga6c72100de0c5357f8fe04670f4f4746.jpg

    And the original Fleming novels in paperback, seeking a US audience.
    Maybe you can guess from the image which titles they represent.

    2317ca31154bdd3981cb85837ef7aa9d--casino-royale-pulp-art.jpg
    Notice it's called out on the cover as Casino Royale.
    128145.jpg?v=1434443715
    Moonraker.

  • GerardGerard
    Posts: 6,022
    The last two were inspired by the works of Mickey Spillane, that's for sure.
  • PussyNoMorePussyNoMore
    Posts: 520
    RichardTheBruce wrote: »

    And the original Fleming novels in paperback, seeking a US audience.
    Maybe you can guess from the image which titles they represent.

    2317ca31154bdd3981cb85837ef7aa9d--casino-royale-pulp-art.jpg
    Notice it's called out on the cover as Casino Royale.
    128145.jpg?v=1434443715
    Moonraker.

    Great cover art. If you have these two in your collection, hang on to them - they are rarities that must be worth a pretty penny. PussyNoMore is jealous !

  • moneyofpropre2moneyofpropre2 France
    edited September 2018 Posts: 859
    Maybe it's also for collecting reason (for the fan who want to buy editions with different cover). The true question for me is why the Bond book (and films) a realease with a delay (sometimes long) in USA otherwise to the same day...
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