"There is no friend as loyal as a book."
— Ernest Hemingway
Ian Fleming | First Editions
1908 - 1964
See below for our world-leading stock of Ian Fleming first editions, signed first editions, fine bindings, sets, association copies, letters, and other collectible material relating to Fleming and his famous creation, James Bond.
Ian Lancaster Fleming was born in Mayfair, London on 28th May 1908, the second of four brothers. He was schooled at Eton College and continued his education in Europe, studying languages in Kitzbuhel, Munich and Geneva. In the 1930's Fleming worked as both a merchant banker and a stockbroker, but it was at journalism (initially reporting for Reuters, then freelance) that he excelled. During World War II, with the rank of Commander, he worked as assistant to the Director of Naval Intelligence at the Admiralty in London, privy to many secrets. It was his experience in this role and his earlier escapades in Russia that were to inspire many of the plots and characters that would appear within his later novels. After the war Fleming dabbled in travel journalism and began writing instructional articles for his network of 'Mercury [news] Service' agents. In the late '40s he bought a property in Jamaica, where in early 1952 he settled down to write a novel. Casino Royale, the first James Bond adventure, was produced in just two months. The same successful routine was followed every year for the rest of his life, leading to a total of fourteen Bond books.
Ian Fleming
Queen Anne Press
Ian Fleming the Bibliography by Jon Gilbert
The Lilly Library
James Bond First Editions
The Ian Fleming Foundation
The James Bond Dossier.
London: Jonathan Cape, 1965. [James Bond Reference] FIRST EDITION. Octavo (24 x 16cm), pp.159 [1]. Publisher's black cloth-effect paper over boards, with gilt titles to spine, and the pictorial dust-wrapper, based on the familiar Chopping 'trompe l'oeil' designs from the Ian Fleming first editions. Priced at 16s. to flap. A...... More
The James Bond Dossier.
London: Jonathan Cape, 1965. [James Bond Reference] FIRST EDITION. Octavo (24 x 16cm), pp.159 [1]. Publisher's black cloth-effect paper over boards, with gilt titles to spine, and the pictorial dust-wrapper, based on the familiar Chopping 'trompe l'oeil' designs from the Ian Fleming first editions. Contents clean, page edges toned, some..... More
The James Bond Dossier.
London: Jonathan Cape, 1965. [James Bond Reference] FIRST EDITION, ASSOCIATION COPY. Octavo (24 x 16cm), pp.159 [1]. Publisher's black cloth-effect paper over boards, with gilt titles to spine, and the pictorial dust-wrapper, based on the familiar Chopping 'trompe l'oeil' designs from the Ian Fleming first editions. Decorative bookplate, SIGNED by..... More
The James Bond Dossier.
London: Jonathan Cape, 1965. [James Bond Reference] FIRST EDITION. Octavo (24 x 16cm), pp.159 [1]. Handsomely bound in half red oasis morocco, titled and decorated in gilt to the spine, raised bands, matching cloth sides, top edge gilt. Contents clean, but for a few light spots/reading marks, exterior as new. A...... More
Poems.
Paris: Hours Press, 1930. [Verse] FIRST EDITION, limited issue, number 94 of 200 copies, signed by the author. Slim small folio, pp.18; [2]. Printed on hand-press paper. Publisher's cloth-backed red paper boards, edges untrimmed. Decorative bookplate and ownership signature of Eve Fleming. Contents clean, boards shelf-worn. very good. Evelyn Beatrice..... More
James Bond, The Man and His World, The Official Companion to Ian Fleming's Creation.
London: John Murray, 2005. FIRST EDITION, with strike-like '1' present. Illustrated quarto (25 x 20cm), pp.250. Hand-bound in half burgundy oasis morocco with raised bands to spine, gilt titles, matching cloth sides, black endpapers, publisher's original cloth spine and dust-jacket preserved at the rear. A fine copy in an attractive..... More
James Bond, The Man and His World, The Official Companion to Ian Fleming's Creation.
London: John Murray, 2005. [Literary Reference] FIRST EDITION, with strike-like '1' present. Illustrated quarto (25 x 20cm), pp.250. Publisher's red cloth hardcovers, pictorial dust-wrapper priced at £20. Bound without the rear flyleaf (as they were issued). A fine, unread copy. Cited by Gilbert as a primary reference book on Ian..... More
All Night at Mr. Stanyhurst's. Introduced by Ian Fleming.
New York: Macmillan [Printed and bound in Great Britain], 1963. [Historical Fiction] FIRST EDITION THUS (published simultaneously with the British edition). Octavo (19 x 13cm), pp.xx; 7-197; [1], blank. Publisher's smooth cloth-effect paper over boards, with gilt titles to the spine, top edge tinted orange, in pictorial dust-wrapper. No inscriptions..... More
![Item #63084 All Night at Mr. Stanyhurst's [two variant bindings]. Introduced by Ian Fleming. Hugh...](https://harringtonbooks-co-uk.cdn.bibliopolis.com/pictures/63084.jpg?width=320&height=427&fit=bounds&auto=webp&v=1666024224)
All Night at Mr. Stanyhurst's [two variant bindings]. Introduced by Ian Fleming.
London: Jonathan Cape, 1963. [Historical Fiction] FIRST EDITION THUS. Octavo (19 x 13cm), pp.xx; 7-197 [1]. Publisher's binding of black textured 'Excelin' material over boards, with gilt titles to the spine, top edge tinted orange, in pictorial dust-wrapper. Together with the variant binding with a dark grey smooth-surfaced covering material..... More
007 - James Bond - For Your Eyes Only. A Marvel Movie Special.
New York: The Marvel Comics Group, October-November 1981. Published as Volume 1, Nos. 1-2 (complete in two issues), presented by Stan Lee and released to coincide with the United Artists film production. The comic is an adaptation of the film rather than the novel, and the characters are drawn to..... More
Airline Detective. The Fight Against International Air Crime. Introduced by Ian Fleming.
London: Collins, 1962. [True crime] FIRST EDITION. Two volumes (first and second impressions) Octavo (19 x 13cm), pp.xx; 7-197; [1], blank. Publisher's smooth cloth-effect paper over boards, with red titles to the spine, top edge tinted orange, in pictorial dust-wrapper. First printing with slightly chipped jacket, price clipped; second printing..... More
Airline Detective. The Fight Against International Air Crime. Introduced by Ian Fleming.
London: Collins, 1962. [True crime] FIRST EDITION. Octavo (19 x 13cm), pp.xx; 7-197; [1], blank. Publisher's smooth cloth-effect paper over boards, with red titles to the spine, top edge tinted orange, in pictorial dust-wrapper priced at 21s. Discreet owner name, jacket with a few small nicks; very good indeed. Airline..... More
Airline Detective. The Fight Against International Air Crime. Introduced by Ian Fleming.
London: Collins, 1962. [True crime] FIRST EDITION. Octavo (19 x 13cm), pp.xx; 7-197; [1], blank. Publisher's smooth cloth-effect paper over boards, with red titles to the spine, top edge tinted orange, in pictorial dust-wrapper priced at 21s. Contents clean, edges toned, jacket with a few small chips to crown and..... More
Airline Detective. The Fight Against International Air Crime. Introduced by Ian Fleming.
London: Collins, 1962. [True crime] FIRST EDITION, SIGNED BY THE AUTHOR. Second impression. Octavo (19 x 13cm), pp.xx; 7-197; [1], blank. Publisher's smooth cloth-effect paper over boards, with red titles to the spine, top edge tinted orange, in pictorial dust-wrapper. With presentation note to title; Yours very sincerely / Donald..... More
Airline Detective. The Fight Against International Air Crime. Introduced by Ian Fleming (2 copies).
London: Fontana Books, 1962. FIRST PAPERBACK EDITION. Two variant copies, the home market issue priced at 3/6 together with the unpriced export copy. Octavos, pp.189; [2], ads; [1], blank. Publisher's softcovers with stills from the recent television adaptation entitled 'Zero One'. Illustrated with black and white photos within. Very good..... More
The Lawless Skies. With a Foreword by Ian Fleming.
New York: Putnam, 1962. FIRST U.S. EDITION. Pp.224, with photographic plates. Publisher's black cloth blocked in blue, pictorial dust-jacket designed by Arthur Hawkins priced at $3.95. An abridged version of Fleming's foreword also fills the rear panel. A clean, fine copy of the book in a very good jacket with..... More
'Operation Thunderball' contained within 'Now and Then' magazine, Number 107 Spring, 1961.
London: Jonathan Cape Ltd., 1961. [Fleming] Pp.24. Price ninepence. Magazine format, illustrated. Publisher Jonathan Cape's literary magazine for the publishing industry, booksellers and the public alike. Contains the first separate appearance of S.P.E.C.T.R.E.'s ransom letter sent to the Prime Minister, extracted from the novel 'Thunderball' (Chapter 1 'Fasten your lap-strap'..... More
Casino Royale.
London: Jonathan Cape, 1953. [Spy thriller] FIRST IMPRESSION, EXPORT COPY. Octavo (20 x 13cm), pp.218; [2], blank. Publisher's black cloth-effect paper over boards with red titles and 'Heart' design to upper, tail edge untrimmed. Housed in a bespoke leather-spine clamshell box. Contents clean, edges toned, endpapers with identity marks of..... More
Introduces Jamaica. Edited by Morris Cargill.
London: Andre Deutsch, 1965. [Travel book] FIRST EDITION, Second Impression. Octavo (24 x 16cm), pp.240, illustrated throughout with colour plates, map endpapers printed in colour. Publisher's russet cloth hardcover, gilt titles, top edge ochre, in photographic dust-jacket. A clean, fine copy of the book in a an attractive near fine..... More
Introduces Jamaica. Edited by Morris Cargill.
New York: Hawthorn Books 1965 [actually published early 1966]. [Travel book] FIRST AMERICAN EDITION, printed at the same time as the British sheets and sharing the same pagination. Octavo (24 x 16cm), pp.240, illustrated throughout with colour plates, cartographic endpapers printed in colour. Publisher's russet cloth hardcover, gilt titles, top..... More
![Item #63213 The Diamond Smugglers [together with] Thrilling Cities. Ian FLEMING](https://harringtonbooks-co-uk.cdn.bibliopolis.com/pictures/63213.jpg?width=320&height=427&fit=bounds&auto=webp&v=1667583840)
The Diamond Smugglers [together with] Thrilling Cities.
London: Ian Fleming Publications Limited, 2009. [Documentaries] Two volumes, FIRST EDITIONS THUS. Octavos (21 x 14cm). Publisher's green cloth with silver titles to spines, pictorial dust-jacket, priced at £15. Fine / as-new copies. Featuring new forewords by Fergus Fleming and Jan Morris. Fleming's only two non-fiction books, published in-house by..... More
The Diamond Smugglers.
London: Jonathan Cape, 1957. [True Crime] FIRST EDITION. Octavo (20 x 14cm), pp.160. Illustrated with photographs. Publisher's black cloth with titles to the spine in bronze, original dust-jacket illustrated by Denis Piper, priced at 12/6. A near fine copy with usual tarnish to cheap foil used for lettering, jacket near..... More
The Diamond Smugglers.
London: Jonathan Cape, 1957. [True Crime] FIRST EDITION. Octavo (20 x 14cm), pp.160. Illustrated with photographs. Elegantly hand-bound in half black calf over matching cloth sides, spine gilt-lettered in six compartments with raised bands. A near fine copy in an attractive recent leather binding. Ian Fleming's first non-Bond book, and..... More
The Diamond Smugglers.
London: Pan Books, 1960. [True Crime] The FIRST Pan paperback edition. Series No G328. Octavo (18 x 11cm), pp.152; [7], advertisements. With a central section of black and white stills. Publisher's softcovers illustrated by Tayler, priced at 2s.6d. Some age-toning to the paper stock as expected, binding ever so slightly..... More
The Diamond Smugglers.
London: Jonathan Cape, 1957. [True Crime] FIRST EDITION, bibliographer's copy. Octavo (20 x 14cm), pp.160. Illustrated with photographs. Elegantly hand-bound in half navy calf over marbled paper-covered cloth sides, spine gilt-lettered in six compartments with raised bands. Some dampmarking to plates else fine, in an attractive recent leather binding. Jon..... More