John Gardner's Scorpius (1988) - Avante Carte Promotional Credit Card?

Silhouette ManSilhouette Man The last refuge of a scoundrelPosts: 8,848MI6 Agent
edited March 2013 in James Bond Memorabilia, Collecting & Props
In Raymond Benson's The James Bond Bedside Companion (2nd edn, 1988) it mentions that the John Gardner continuation novel Scorpius (1988) had a promotional Avante Carte Credit Card to promote the book, for sale at the same time of the sale of the hardback of the novel in 1988 by Guild Publishing (which had an Avante Carte credit card on the front cover). My question is, does anyone here know any more details about this or even have one of these promotional products? If so, I'd really love to hear from you. :)

This is quite unusual and I think it's one of the few promotions that accompanied the John Gardner continuation novels. There were promotions through the cars used in the early novels - both the Saab 900 and the Bentley Mulsanne Turbo had promotions accompanying them.

I guess that this is the best place to ask this question as you guys certainly know your stuff here in the AJB Memorabilia, Collecting and Clothing. I believe this is renowned as the very best such forum in the world. Hopefully some of the experts here may be able to help me on this. Posted below is an image of the Avante Carte credit card:


Scorpius_Novel_Cover.jpg

Scorpius_Novel_Cover.jpg

Larger picture here:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:ScorpiusNovelCover.jpg

P.S. You can also visit my other main thread on Scorpius reviews here:

http://ajb007.co.uk/topic/40281/scorpius-1988-by-john-gardner-the-most-prescient-james-bond-novel/
"The tough man of the world. The Secret Agent. The man who was only a silhouette." - Ian Fleming, Moonraker (1955).

Comments

  • Asp9mmAsp9mm Over the Hills and Far Away.Posts: 7,535MI6 Agent
    It was given away at a bookstore signing event in London ... Waterstones by Fortnums? I can't remember exactly, but I didn't pay anything for it as it was a given away as part of the purchase of the book at the signing. Underwhelming and cheaply made. It's still in that same book.
    ..................Asp9mmSIG-1-2.jpg...............
  • Silhouette ManSilhouette Man The last refuge of a scoundrelPosts: 8,848MI6 Agent
    Asp9mm wrote:
    It was given away at a bookstore signing event in London ... Waterstones by Fortnums? I can't remember exactly, but I didn't pay anything for it as it was a given away as part of the purchase of the book at the signing. Underwhelming and cheaply made. It's still in that same book.

    Wow! I didn't expect anyone to have one at all! Any chance of you selling it?

    I'm writing a long review article on Scorpius and want to cover ever base. I've got to tell the whole fascinating background story of Scorpius and how it really came into being for the first time ever. :)
    "The tough man of the world. The Secret Agent. The man who was only a silhouette." - Ian Fleming, Moonraker (1955).
  • Asp9mmAsp9mm Over the Hills and Far Away.Posts: 7,535MI6 Agent
    No chance of selling... sorry, JG personally signed it to me along with the book. It's really rubbish anyway. I thought it was bad in the Eighties, given todays replication and printing processes, it's laughable. The memories it evokes however are irreplaceable.
    ..................Asp9mmSIG-1-2.jpg...............
  • Silhouette ManSilhouette Man The last refuge of a scoundrelPosts: 8,848MI6 Agent
    Asp9mm wrote:
    No chance of selling... sorry, JG personally signed it to me along with the book. It's really rubbish anyway. I thought it was bad in the Eighties, given todays replication and printing processes, it's laughable. The memories it evokes however are irreplaceable.

    OK, I thought it was worth a try. I have a lovely signed photo of John Gardner along with a letter. Could you post a photo of it here, then, by any chance. It has really piqued my interest!
    "The tough man of the world. The Secret Agent. The man who was only a silhouette." - Ian Fleming, Moonraker (1955).
  • Asp9mmAsp9mm Over the Hills and Far Away.Posts: 7,535MI6 Agent
    I'll dig it out. I've only recently got back from a long posting in Tanzania though so most of my stuff is in storage or up the loft at my folks house. I need to sort my crap out and get my books back on shelves.
    ..................Asp9mmSIG-1-2.jpg...............
  • HigginsHiggins GermanyPosts: 16,619MI6 Agent
    that creditcard would be the only one of yours with at least some commercial value :D
    President of the 'Misty Eyes Club'.
    Dalton - the weak and weepy Bond!
  • Asp9mmAsp9mm Over the Hills and Far Away.Posts: 7,535MI6 Agent
    You're not far wrong there :D
    ..................Asp9mmSIG-1-2.jpg...............
  • HigginsHiggins GermanyPosts: 16,619MI6 Agent
    Asp9mm wrote:
    You're not far wrong there :D

    Can I please have that signed and stamped? :D
    President of the 'Misty Eyes Club'.
    Dalton - the weak and weepy Bond!
  • Silhouette ManSilhouette Man The last refuge of a scoundrelPosts: 8,848MI6 Agent
    Asp9mm wrote:
    I'll dig it out. I've only recently got back from a long posting in Tanzania though so most of my stuff is in storage or up the loft at my folks house. I need to sort my crap out and get my books back on shelves.

    Oh, thanks. that'd be great. No rush. :)
    "The tough man of the world. The Secret Agent. The man who was only a silhouette." - Ian Fleming, Moonraker (1955).
  • Silhouette ManSilhouette Man The last refuge of a scoundrelPosts: 8,848MI6 Agent
    edited July 2022
    What was the credit card made from, may I ask. I assume plastic, and what name was on the front of it - that of Emma Dupree? ?:)
    "The tough man of the world. The Secret Agent. The man who was only a silhouette." - Ian Fleming, Moonraker (1955).
  • Asp9mmAsp9mm Over the Hills and Far Away.Posts: 7,535MI6 Agent
    It was more like a dense fibre similar to a plastic/cardboard hybrid. I'm pretty sure it had Bonds name on.
    ..................Asp9mmSIG-1-2.jpg...............
  • Silhouette ManSilhouette Man The last refuge of a scoundrelPosts: 8,848MI6 Agent
    edited March 2013
    Asp9mm wrote:
    It was more like a dense fibre similar to a plastic/cardboard hybrid. I'm pretty sure it had Bonds name on.

    Now that's very interesting that it had Bond's name on it - that tallies with my private research. I'm doing some in-depth research on Scorpius and I'm writing a lengthy and in-depth article on the novel that may be of interest to members here, when it's completed. :)
    "The tough man of the world. The Secret Agent. The man who was only a silhouette." - Ian Fleming, Moonraker (1955).
  • Bond Collectors' WeekendsBond Collectors' Weekends Gainesville, Florida USAPosts: 1,902MI6 Agent
    Certainly. I'd love to get a link to your article when it is complete. A few years ago, I did some research on TMFB and found the Florida locations mentioned...
    Seven (007) James Bond Tours! Mission: Mexico!
  • Silhouette ManSilhouette Man The last refuge of a scoundrelPosts: 8,848MI6 Agent
    Bond Collectors' Weekends wrote:
    Certainly. I'd love to get a link to your article when it is complete. A few years ago, I did some research on TMFB and found the Florida locations mentioned...

    I'm also very interested in TMFB - writing something on that one, too. Could you tell me/share with me some of your locations research and if you've written it up anywhere online at all? :) I'd be very interested in reading about that. I hope to get the piece on Scorpius out soon! :)
    "The tough man of the world. The Secret Agent. The man who was only a silhouette." - Ian Fleming, Moonraker (1955).
  • Silhouette ManSilhouette Man The last refuge of a scoundrelPosts: 8,848MI6 Agent
    Are the Florida locations those at the start of the book or the ones where Bond did his assassination some years before the start of TMFB? I think they're those at the start, though. :)
    "The tough man of the world. The Secret Agent. The man who was only a silhouette." - Ian Fleming, Moonraker (1955).
  • Silhouette ManSilhouette Man The last refuge of a scoundrelPosts: 8,848MI6 Agent
    Any other AJB'ers remember this/have this for sale?

    I'm in the market for the Avante Carte credit card and I do hope that your cedit is good. :)
    "The tough man of the world. The Secret Agent. The man who was only a silhouette." - Ian Fleming, Moonraker (1955).
  • Silhouette ManSilhouette Man The last refuge of a scoundrelPosts: 8,848MI6 Agent
    Could someone that has this credit card promotion used for Scorpius possibly send me a photocopy/post an image of said card? I'd be most grateful! :) -{
    "The tough man of the world. The Secret Agent. The man who was only a silhouette." - Ian Fleming, Moonraker (1955).
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