The Rise and Fall of Alan Bond

First edition, first impression.  viii, 290pp, with some black and white plate illustrations.  Blue cloth-covered boards with gilt lettering to spine. 8vo.  Cloth a little bruised at spine tips, minor bump on lower leading corner.  Previous owner’s name obliterated on front free endpaper, where there is also a small book exchange label, else internally neat, clean, bright and tight.  In its original glossy dust jacket, shelf worn, bumped and a little toned all round edges, slightly faded over spine.

Alan Bond’s story is one of rags to riches to a tremendous fall from grace.  An Australian businessman noted for his high-profile business dealings in the 1980s, he was hailed as a national hero after bank-rolling the first successful challenge for the America’s Cup in 1983 and won Australia’s Man of the Year Award in 1978; founded Bond University on Australia’s Gold Coast and purchased Vincent Van Gogh’s Irises for a cool 54 million Australian dollar in 1987.  A few years later he was embroiled in scandal, declared bankrupt held responsible for the biggest corporate collapse in Australian history and sentenced to four years in prison.