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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 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 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: Ian Fleming Publications Limited, 2009. [True Crime] FIRST EDITION THUS, SIGNED COPY. Octavo (21 x 14cm), pp.116. Autographed by Fergus Fleming in black ink to the title page, in my presence. Publisher's green cloth with silver titles to spine. With the pictorial dust-jacket, priced at £15. A fine as-new..... 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 '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, 1962-3. 8 volumes [all that were issued in this series], octavo (16 x 10 x 9cm). A vintage set of the 'Great Pan' paperbacks with the Yellow Band covers (Dr.No technically a white band), and Pan's '007' and bullets logo. Colour-illustrated cover designs, each volume correctly priced..... 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
The Illustrated James Bond, 007. Diamonds are Forever; From Russia with Love; Doctor No.
Bronxville, NY: James Bond 007 Fan Club, 1981. [James Bond Comics] FIRST THUS. Small quarto (28 x 22cm), pp.[6] 90. Containing three comic adventures illustrated by McLusky. Publisher's soft covers illustrated by Sciacca & Buckler, priced at $6.95. Some light wear to spine. A fine copy. 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] 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
Casino Royale.
London: Jonathan Cape, 1953. [Spy novel] FIRST EDITION, FIRST 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, pictorial dust-wrapper priced at 10/6. Some moderate toning, jacket with some chips and tears, 1cm loss..... More
Complete James Bond First Editions in Facsimile. 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 and 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).
[Jonathan Cape, London] First Edition Library, Shelton, Connecticut [1953-66] 1980s-90s. [Thrillers] 14 volumes, small octavo (20 x 14 x 41cm). Replica volumes in illustrated dust-wrappers. The complete set in the original pictorial card slip-cases. All books near fine to fine, slipcases lightly handled with light marking etc. Most attractive. Complete..... More
The Complete James Bond, comprising A James Bond Quartet, A James Bond Quintet and The Essential James Bond. Comprising: (1st Vol): Casino Royale, Live and Let Die, Moonraker, From Russia with Love (2nd Vol): Diamonds are Forever, Doctor No, Goldfinger, For your Eyes Only, The Spy who Loved Me (3rd Vol): Thunderball, On Her Majesty's Service, You Only Live Twice, The Man with the Golden Gun, Octopussy, The Living Daylights.
London: Jonathan Cape Ltd., 1992-4, [Spy thrillers] FIRST EDITIONS thus; three omnibus volumes containing all the original James Bond novels and issued by the original publisher in this new format. Foil-stamped black cloth with pictorial dust-wrappers. These are thick, heavy books and usually suffer from knocks and creasing to jackets..... More