"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. FIRST EDITION. THE AUTHOR'S COPY, in a bespoke quarter leather binding of half red morocco, gilt, commissioned by the publisher for presentation to Amis. Obviously a unique copy, this was likely bound by Ian Fleming's own binder Arthur Last, the style matching closely the author's copies..... More
The James Bond Dossier.
New York, NY: Signet Books, 1966. [Bond reference /critique] FIRST U.S. PAPERBACK. Pp.127 + [1], advertisement. Publisher's illustrated softcovers priced at 60c, all edges red. Cheap paper stock browned as usual, covers slightly rubbed. Near fine. Now a rather elusive paperback, published in the same year as the UK Pan..... More
![The James Bond 007 Annual [1968]. Anon, Ian FLEMING](/pictures/thumb/56235.jpg?v=1586882289)
The James Bond 007 Annual [1968].
Manchester: Published by World Distributors [by arrangement with Eon Productions / Glidrose Publications], 1968. [Film annual] FIRST AND ONLY EDITION. Large octavo (27 x 21cm), pp.93 (the pagination, as with all copies, is awry, beginning at p.4). Publisher's glossy boards without jacket as issued. Illustrated throughout including several colour photographs..... More
"The Living Daylights" (released through United Artists). Aston Martin Assembly Manual.
[n.p.] [1987, printed later]. Spiral bound reproduction manual produced by 007 Magazine, for the modifications to be carried out on the Aston Martin V8 vehicles used by James Bond (played by Timothy Dalton) in the 1987 Eon Productions film. Fifteen card sheets printed on rectos only, illustrated throughout with photographs..... More
"Quantum of Solace" (released through United Artists/Columbia Pictures). Advance Production Notes for the film.
Eon Productions Limited, 2008. SIGNED COPY. Extensive Press notes issued just before release of the James Bond film "Quantum of Solace" [Based on an original story written by Neal Purvis and Robert Wade, using characters created by Ian Fleming]. 46 pages, stapled. With a synopsis, notes on locations, biographies of..... More
Casino Royale.
London: Jonathan Cape, 1953. [Spy thriller] FIRST EDITION, SECOND ISSUE. 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, in pictorial second issue (overprinted) dust-jacket, designed by the author, showing the correct price of 10/6..... More
Casino Royale.
London: Jonathan Cape, 1953. [Spy thriller] FIRST EDITION, Second Impression, Jacket 'A' (the first edition d/w, over-printed with the Sunday Times review). Octavo (20 x 13cm), pp.218; [2], blank. Publisher's black cloth-effect paper over boards, decorated with heart motif to upper, lettered in red to spine. Pictorial dust-wrapper priced at..... 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. Some occasional browning within; externally unmarked. A very good copy in an attractive recent leather binding..... More
The Diamond Smugglers.
London: Jonathan Cape, 1957. [True Crime] FIRST EDITION, FIRST ISSUE. Octavo (20 x 14cm), pp.160. Illustrated with photographs. Publisher's black cloth with white titles to the spine in original dust-jacket illustrated by Denis Piper, priced at 12/6. Contents fine, page edges toned, jacket rubbed at joints, chipped to crown, old..... 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 Centenary Edition of the Works of Ian Fleming.
London: Queen Anne Press 2008. LIMITED EDITION in Vellum over cloth sides, one of just 100 copies. 18 volumes, octavo. The definitive edition of Ian Fleming, issued to commemorate the birth of the author; no such edition has been published before. The Queen Anne Press was created by Lord Kemsley..... More
Diamonds are Forever.
New York, NY: Permabooks, 1957. [Spy novel] FIRST AMERICAN SOFTCOVER EDITION. Octavo (15 x 10cm), pp.179; [3], advertisements. Series No. M3084. Publisher's illustrated card covers, all edges tinted red, with printed price 25 cents. A little rubbing/wear to joins, tiny chip to head of spine; near fine. Issued uniformly with..... More
From Russia, With Love (a James Bond novel)
London: Jonathan Cape. 1957, FIRST EDITION, First Impression, Binding A, an ASSOCIATION COPY. Pp.253. Publisher's cloth-effect paper over boards in pictorial dust-wrapper illustrated by Richard Chopping. A used copy but with no significant defects; jacket darkened to spine, rubbed to joints with some chips and tears. Preserved in a clamshell..... More
Ian Fleming's James Bond novels, the complete Signet paperback series. Comprising: Casino Royale, Live and Let Die, Moonraker, Diamonds Are Forever, From Russia With Love, Dr. No, Goldfinger, For Your Eyes Only (short stories inc. From A View To A Kill, Quantum of Solace), Thunderball, The Spy Who loved Me, On Her Majesty's Secret Service, You Only Live Twice, The Man with the Golden Gun, Octopussy and The Living Daylights (short stories)
New York: Signet Books, Published by The New American Library. 1958-1967. [Spy Fiction] FIRST SIGNET EDITIONS, all first printings. 14 volumes, octavo (18 x 11 x 17cm). Publisher's colour illustrated softcovers, all edges tinted red. Toning to cheap paper as expected, a few owner stamps, expected handling and wear, chip..... More
The James Bond Novels. PENGUIN LTD EDITION. Casino Royale, Live and Let Die, Moonraker, Diamonds Are Forever, From Russia With Love, Dr. No, Goldfinger, For Your Eyes Only, Thunderball, The Spy Who loved Me, On Her Majesty's Secret Service, You Only Live Twice, The Man with the Golden Gun and Octopussy and The Living Daylights.
London: Penguin Books / Past Times, 2002. [Spy series] THE COMPLETE JAMES BOND SERIES, LIMITED EDITION. 14 volumes, small octavo (19 x 12 x 27cm). Softcovers with photographic cover art by Toby MacFarlan Pond. This is the paperback version of Penguin's Anniversary edition. Limited to 2000 numbered sets, of which..... More
Live and Let Die
London: Jonathan Cape. 1959. Hardcover reprint. AN INSCRIBED ASSOCIATION COPY. Publisher's black, gilt-embossed cloth-effect paper over boards, in purple dustwrapper. Minor wear, a little bumped, jacket with some wear to extremities, rubbed to joints. Very good. SIGNED by the author to the flyleaf. This copy is from the library of..... More
![You Only Live Twice [Variant wrapper with wide flaps]. Ian Lancaster FLEMING](/pictures/thumb/56973.jpg?v=1593709205)
You Only Live Twice [Variant wrapper with wide flaps]
London: Jonathan Cape. 1964. FIRST EDITION, First State, Binding A. Octavo (20 x 14cm), pp.256. Publisher's black cloth-effect paper ('Excelin') over boards with silver titles to spine and Japanese characters in gilt to upper, bamboo patterned endpapers. With the dust-jacket illustrated by Richard Chopping, priced at 16s. This copy features..... More
You Only Live Twice.
London: Jonathan Cape, 1964. FIRST EDITION, First State, Binding B. Octavo (20 x 14cm), pp.256. Publisher's black cloth-effect paper over boards ('Fabroleen') with silver titles to spine and Japanese characters in gilt to upper, bamboo patterned endpapers. With the dust-jacket illustrated by Richard Chopping, priced at 16s. Book is near..... More
You Only Live Twice.
London: Jonathan Cape, 1964. [Spy novel] FIRST EDITION. Octavo (20 x 14cm), pp.256. With 'First Published March 1964' on the copyright page. Publisher's dark grey cloth-effect paper over boards with silver titles to spine and Japanese characters in gilt to upper, bamboo patterned endpapers, pictorial dust-wrapper by Richard Chopping. Page..... More
Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. The Magical Car. Illustrated by John Burningham.
London: Puffin Books, 2008. [Children's Adventure] SIGNED FIRST EDITION THUS, signed by the illustrator. Quarto (26 x 221cm), pp.[8]; 113; [7]. Publisher's red cloth in metallic glossy pictorial dust-wrapper. A fine unused copy, the shiny jacket showing a couple of small scratches. A classic adventure story featuring a high-spirited family..... More
Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. The Magical Car. Illustrated by John Burningham.
London: Jonathan Cape and Queen Anne Press, 2014. [Children's illustrated] LIMITED EDITION. In three volumes, complete. Octavo (25 x 17cm), pp.48; pp.48; pp.48. Publisher's white hardcovers in glossy pictorial dust-wrappers, the three volumes are presented in a racing green slip-case. A facsimile of the first edition of Ian Fleming's famous..... More
Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. The Magical Car. Illustrated by John Burningham.
London: Jonathan Cape 1964-5. [Children's classic] 3 volumes, octavos (24 x 17cm). ALL FIRST IMPRESSIONS. Complete. Pp.48, 48, 48. Publisher's white hardcovers in glossy pictorial dust-wrappers. A presentable set with some expected wear, a few marks and tears (one longer tear to no.3), no bookplates or inscriptions. All three volumes..... More
Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. The Magical Car. Illustrated by John Burningham.
London: Jonathan Cape and Queen Anne Press, 2014. [Children's illustrated] LIMITED EDITION, no 80 of 100 copies only, this set being additionally SIGNED BY THE ARTIST John Burningham to each book. 3 volumes, tall octavos, complete. Pp.48, 48, 48. Publisher's white hardcovers in glossy pictorial dust-wrappers. A facsimile of the..... More
Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. The Magical Car. Illustrated by John Burningham.
London: Jonathan Cape and Queen Anne Press, 2014. [Children's illustrated] DELUXE LIMITED EDITION, one of just 50 sets, accompanied by two prints, measuring 297 x 210mm, SIGNED and numbered by John Burningham. Three volumes plus portfolio, housed in a grey cloth slipcase (34 x 24 x 6cm), pp.48; pp.48; pp.48..... More
![Si vive solo due volte. [You Only Live Twice]. Ian Lancaster FLEMING, Enrico CICOGNA](/pictures/thumb/57815.jpg?v=1600102499)
Si vive solo due volte. [You Only Live Twice].
Milan: Garzanti, 1965. [James Bond] FIRST EDITION IN ITALIAN. Octavo (20 x 13cm), pp.183 [1]. Publisher's brown cloth with yellow titles to spine. With the purple and yellow dust-jacket, not priced. Heavily browned text block with some heavy chipping to top corner. Large losses to two leaves, not affecting text..... More