"Hungry man, reach for the book: it is a weapon. "
— Bertolt Brecht
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 about The James Bond Dossier
The Art of Bond.
London: Boxtree/Pan Macmillan, 2006. [Film design] FIRST EDITION. Square quarto (26 x 26cm), pp.240. Colour photographs throughout. Publisher's black cloth lettered in silver, black endpapers photographic dust-wrapper priced at £30rrp. Some minor wear, a few marks to wrapper. Near fine. Sub-titled 'From the storyboard to screen: the creative process behind... More about The Art of Bond
All Night at Mr. Stanyhurst's. Introduced by Ian Fleming.
London: Jonathan Cape, 1963. [Historical Fiction] FIRST EDITION THUS. 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. A lightly used copy, jacket with some wear and tear, soiling to rear panel... More about All Night at Mr. Stanyhurst's. Introduced by Ian Fleming
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 about Casino Royale
Introduces Jamaica. Edited by Morris Cargill
London: Andre Deutsch, 1965. [Travel book] FIRST STATE without Editor's name printed on the jacket panels. 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, priced at 42s. Book is near fine... More about Introduces Jamaica. Edited by Morris Cargill
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 about The Diamond Smugglers
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 Pipe. Contents fine, page edges toned, jacket very lightly edgeworn, spine a shade toned/sunned, price-clipped. A clean... More about The Diamond Smugglers
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 about The Diamond Smugglers
The Diamond Smugglers.
London: Pan Books Ltd 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, some rubbing to joints. Overall... More about The Diamond Smugglers
James Bond. The Paradise Plot. Original Comic Strip artwork, signed by the Illustrator.
Copyright, Glidrose 1981-2. A three-strip panel, being board number 256 drawn in pen and ink on artboard, with pasteover sections of text. Twice SIGNED by John McLusky, firstlly beneath central illustration and again, to revese side, together with adoodled '007' motif, below his 6-linehand-written description. In a simple matt black... More about James Bond. The Paradise Plot. Original Comic Strip artwork, signed by the Illustrator
Yours Ever Ian Fleming.
New Zealand: Privately Published (Printed by Printhouse Nelson) 1994. [Letters] FIRST (and only) EDITION. Softcover original, pp.112. Printed correspondence between 'James Bond' creator Ian Fleming and Intelligence officer Antony Terry, "one of his most trusted reporters who provided valuable source materials for the 007 novels" (Gilbert, p.652). Compiled by Terry's... More about Yours Ever Ian Fleming
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 about The Centenary Edition of the Works of Ian Fleming
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 about Diamonds are Forever
![Dr. No [three copies in varying bindings]. Ian Lancaster FLEMING](/pictures/thumb/42943.JPG?v=1493310919)
Dr. No [three copies in varying bindings]
London: Jonathan Cape 1958. FIRST EDITION, First Impressions. An example of each of the commercially available bindings used for the first impression, comprising FIRST STATE BINDING A, being plain black Linson material; FIRST STATE BINDING B, being plain black Fabroleen material; and the SECOND STATE BINDING, being black Fabroleen material... More about Dr. No [three copies in varying bindings
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 about From Russia, With Love (a James Bond novel
Ian Fleming's James Bond novels, the complete 'Great Pan' Yellow Band 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).
London: Pan Books, 1960-62. 8 volumes [all that were issued in this series], octavo (16 x 10 x 9cm). A vintage set of 'Great Pan' paperbacks with the Yellow Band covers and classic colour-illustrated cover designs. Some toning to cheap paper as expected, very light rubbing, single ink name to... More about Ian Fleming's James Bond novels, the complete 'Great Pan' Yellow Band paperback series....
Ian Fleming's James Bond novels, the complete Pan paperback 'X' 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)
London: Pan Books, 1960s. JAMES BOND PAPERBACKS. 14 volumes, octavo (18 x 12 x 18). A vintage set of Pan paperbacks in the classic 'X' series with cover artwork and bold 'James Bond' lettering after designs by Raymond Hawkey. Publisher's softcovers, some toning to cheap paperstock, acceptable wear (joints rubbed/the... More about Ian Fleming's James Bond novels, the complete Pan paperback 'X' series. Comprising: Casino...
Ian Fleming's James Bond novels, the complete Triad 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)
London: Triad Panther / Grafton / Granada, 1978-1985. JAMES BOND PAPERBACKS. 14 volumes, octavo (16 x 10 x 20cm). A vintage set of Triad paperbacks in the classic 'girl and gun' series, with giant golden 9mm automatic pistol. Includes three first printings. Publisher's softcovers. Some toning to cheap paperstock as... More about Ian Fleming's James Bond novels, the complete Triad paperback series. Comprising: Casino Royale,...
A James Bond Omnibus Containing Live and Let Die, Diamonds are Forever and Dr No
London: Jonathan Cape 1973. Pp748. FIRST CAPE EDITION of the first James Bond omnibus to be published in the UK. Publisher'scloth-effect paper over boards, blocked in gilt to the spine, in the metallic-effect dust-wrapper printed in black and red. No inscriptions or price-clipping. A used copy with some expected wear... More about A James Bond Omnibus Containing Live and Let Die, Diamonds are Forever and Dr No
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 about Live and Let Die
The Man With the Golden Gun.
New York: The New American Library, 1965. FIRST US EDITION. Octavo (22 x 14cm), pp.183. Publisher's hardcovers, stamped in gilt and colours with golden gun motif boldly blocked to all three panels, dust-jacket with die-cut bullet holes to upper. This is the correct binding with the code number gilt-stamped to... More about The Man With the Golden Gun
You Only Live Twice.
Bath: Chivers Press, New Portway, 1982. [Spy novel] LARGE PRINT EDITION. Octavo (22 x 15cm), pp.[x]; 282; [4], blank. Publisher's burgundy cloth-effect paper over boards with titles to spine, photographic dust-jacket. Page edges toned, ex-library with usual markings and declassification, otherwise a clean copy of a reasonably scarce edition. More about You Only Live Twice
You Only Live Twice.
London: Jonathan Cape, 1964. [Spy novel] FIRST EDITION, First State, Binding A. Octavo (20 x 14cm), pp.256. Publisher's black cloth-effect paper 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. Contents fine... More about You Only Live Twice
Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. The Magical Car. Illustrated by John Burningham.
London: Jonathan Cape and Queen Anne Press, 2014. Edition limited to 100 copies, this set being one of a few marked 'o/s' [out-of-series]. 3 volumes, tall octavos. Complete. Pp.48, 48, 48. Publisher's white hardcovers in glossy pictorial dust-wrappers. A facsimile of the first edition of Ian Fleming's famous children's story... More about Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. The Magical Car. Illustrated by John Burningham
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 about Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. The Magical Car. Illustrated by John Burningham