James Bond book collectors already have something to hunt for with the release of SilverFin, the first Young Bond novel by Charlie Higson. As CBn first reported last week the release of Book 2 has been pushed from October 2005 to January ’06. This date change has now been confirmed with Ian Fleming Publications.

However, the first printing of SilverFin — identifiable by a roman numeral 1 on the copyright page — still shows the release date for Book 2 as “October 2005″ in front of the book (under other Young Bond titles), while a “Top Secret” add for Book 2 on the last page shows the correct release date of January ’06.

This mistake was discovered and corrected in a second printing before the March 3rd release, and the majority of copies out there are the corrected second edition.

But there’s good news for collectors! It seems some of the first edition error copies did slip through and are out there mixed with the second. Even just being a First makes it the desirable edition, but being a First and an error copy (and possibly recalled) makes it all that more desirable and, no doubt, more valuable over time.

So if this kind of thing matters to you, when buying your copy of SilverFin, be sure to check that copyright page or the back of that very first page. If it says Young Bond Book 2 is coming “October 2005″, then that’s the rare first edition error copy. If it says “January 2006″, then what you have there is a second.

Happy hunting my fellow collector nuts!

Which copy did you get? To discuss this news visit this thread on the CBn Forums.

Purchase the UK paperback edition of SilverFin

Purchase the SilverFin audio book

Pre-order the U.S. hardcover edition of SilverFin (April 27, 2005)

Pre-order the U.S. paperback edition of SilverFin (April 27, 2005)