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 Man With The Golden Gun.
New York, NY: New American Library, 1965. [Spy thriller] FIRST US EDITION. Octavo (22 x 14cm), pp.183; [1]. 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..... More
The Man With the Golden Gun.
London: Jonathan Cape, 1965. [Spy novel] FIRST EDITION, scarce second issue with WHITE ENDPAPERS instead of the usual green. Octavo (19 x 13cm), pp.221. Publisher's cloth-effect paper over boards with bronze lettering to spine, plain covers, white endpapers, original illustrated jacket by Richard Chopping priced at 18s. Edges very lightly..... More
The Man With the Golden Gun.
London: Jonathan Cape, 1965. [Thriller] FIRST ISSUE, second state, binding B, British colonial/export copy. Octavo (19 x 13cm), pp.221; [1]. Publisher's dark grey cloth-effect paper over boards with bronze lettering to the spine, plain covers, patterned green endpapers. In the original pictorial dust-jacket illustrated by Richard Chopping, priced at 18s..... More
The Man With the Golden Gun.
London: Jonathan Cape, 1965. [Thriller] FIRST ISSUE, binding 'A'. Octavo (19 x 13cm), pp.221. Publisher's dark grey cloth-effect paper over boards with gilt lettering to the spine (twice as scarce as bronze lettering), plain covers (usual second state without gun motif), patterned green endpapers. In the original pictorial dust-jacket illustrated..... More
The Man With The Golden Gun.
New York, NY: New American Library, 1965. [Spy thriller] FIRST American book club edition, Binding 'B', bibliographer's copy. Octavo (21 x 14cm), pp.121. Publisher's black vinyl with yellow trim, revolver gun blocked in gilt to spine, olive green endpapers, top edge coloured yellow, fore-edge untrimmed. With the typographic dust-jacket. Contents..... More
The Man With The Golden Gun.
New York, NY: New American Library, 1965. [Spy thriller] 'CHESSMAN' EDITION, bibliographer's copy. Octavo (22 x 14cm), pp.183; [1]. Publisher's 'antique-style' leather-effect green vinyl over boards, panelled spine tooled in gilt, black eps., yellow embroidered head and tail bands, top edge gilt, fore-edge untrimmed. Contents clean, light rubbing to extremities..... More
The Man With The Golden Gun. In 'Playboy' Magazine. April-July 1965.
Chicago: HMH Publishing Co., Inc., Playboy Building, 232 East Ohio Street, 1965. [Spy novel serialisation] FIRST APPEARANCE. Four issues. Magazine format, stapled, illustrated. Original Price 75 cents per issue. Housed in an elegant protective gilt-titled dark green buckram case. Overall size 30 x 23cm. Some light expected handling; near fine..... More
The Man With The Golden Gun. In 'Playboy' Magazine. April-July 1965.
Chicago: HMH Publishing Co., Inc., Playboy Building, 232 East Ohio Street, 1965. [Spy novel serialisation] FIRST APPEARANCE. Four issues. Magazine format, stapled, illustrated. Overall size 30 x 23cm. Original Price 75 cents per issue. Some light expected handling, small chip to cover of April issue, June issue has centrefold pullout..... More
Moonraker.
London: Queen Anne Press, in association with Adrian Harrington, [2022]. [Spy thriller] CLASSIC READERS EDITION. Octavo (22 x 14cm), pp.296. Publisher's blood red hardcovers stamped in gilt, decorated with author's initials in gilt to cover, plain black endpapers. Absolutely fine/as new. One of a selection of titles by Ian Fleming..... More
Moonraker.
London: Pan Books, 1956. [Spy novel] FIRST Pan paperback edition. Series No.392. Octavo (18 x 11cm), pp.185; [186-192], advertisements. Publisher's illustrated softcovers by Josh Kirby with original price 2 shillings to upper panel. Usual toning to cheap paperstock, covers clean, spine a little rolled with some rubbing to joints. No..... More
Moonraker.
London: Jonathan Cape, 1955. [James Bond] FIRST EDITION, Second Impression. Octavo (19 x 13cm), pp.256. Publisher's black cloth-effect paper over boards, lettered in silver to front cover and spine. Some foxing to first and final gatherings, edges spotted, covers remain fresh and sharp. A very good copy without the scarce..... More
Moonraker.
New York, NY: Signet Books, October 1960. [James Bond] FIRST SIGNET PAPERBACK EDITION. Signet Books' series S1850. Octavo (18 x 11cm), pp.175 [1]. Publisher's illustrated softcovers with original price 35c to upper panel, all edges tinted red. Overseas price (3/3) rubber stamped to fly. Pages a little tanned as expected..... More
Moonraker.
London: Jonathan Cape, 1955. [James Bond] FIRST EDITION, BINDING A (Fabroleen material). This version with 'shoot' correctly printed to page 10 (state B). Octavo, pp.256. Publisher's black cloth-effect paper over boards, titled in silver. A respectable ex-library copy; stamp to copyright page partially erased/washed, section H re-inserted with one leaf..... More
Moonraker.
New York, NY: Signet Books, October 1960. [James Bond] FIRST SIGNET PAPERBACK EDITION. Signet Books' series S1850. Octavo (18 x 11cm), pp.175 [1]. Publisher's illustrated softcovers with original price 35c to upper panel, all edges tinted red. Overseas price (3/3) rubber stamped to fly. Pages much less tanned than expected..... More
Moonraker.
Leicester: Thorpe / Ulverscroft 1975. [Spy novel] FIRST EDITION THUS. Large print. Octavo (22 x 14cm), pp.[iv]; 394; [2]. Publisher's hardcovers in typographic dust-jacket. Page edges toned, ex-library with usual markings and declassification, associated general wear; jacket is actually quite bright and fresh. A genuinely scarce book in jacket, no..... More
Moonraker.
New York, NY: Signet Books, October 1960. [James Bond] FIRST SIGNET PAPERBACK EDITION, bibliographer's copy. Signet Books' series S1850. Octavo (18 x 11cm), pp.175 [1]. Publisher's illustrated softcovers with original price 35c to upper panel, all edges tinted red. Pages a little tanned as expected, minor wear to spine ends..... More
Moonraker.
London: Jonathan Cape, 1955. [James Bond novel] FIRST EDITION, BINDING A (Fabroleen material), bibliographer's copy. This version with 'shoot' correctly printed to page 10 (state B). Octavo, pp.256. Publisher's black cloth-effect paper over boards, titled in silver. A working copy; cheaper paper toned as expected for this issue, some marginal..... More
Moonraker.
London: Jonathan Cape, 1955. [James Bond] FIRST EDITION, Second Impression, bibliographer's copy. Octavo (19 x 13cm), pp.256. Publisher's black cloth-effect paper over boards, lettered in silver to front cover and spine. Near fine, provided with a later plain brown paper jacket with printed labels, made for ready-reference purposes. Jon Gilbert's..... More
Moonraker.
London: Jonathan Cape, 1959. [James Bond] FIRST EDITION, Fourth printing, bibliographer's copy. Octavo (19 x 13cm), pp.256. Publisher's black cloth-effect paper over boards, lettered in silver to front cover and spine. Near fine, provided with a later plain brown paper jacket with printed labels, made for ready-reference purposes. Jon Gilbert's..... More
Moonraker.
London: Jonathan Cape, 1955. [James Bond novel] FIRST EDITION, BINDING A (Fabroleen material). This version with 'shoot' correctly printed to page 10 (state B). Octavo, pp.256. Publisher's black cloth-effect paper over boards, titled in silver. No inscriptions. Internally clean with no spotting, edges gently toned, a few light marks to..... More
Moonraker.
London: Jonathan Cape, 1975. [Espionage novel] Vintage hardcover reprint. Octavo (19 x 13cm), pp.256. A used, ex-library copy, marked as such and with expected faults. Publisher's cloth binding, typographic dust-jacket with price label (£3.50) to front flap. Text complete, contents clean, library identification in ink to copyright page, lacks half-title..... More
Moonraker.
New York: Bantam Books, 1973. [James Bond] First Bantam Paperback edition, first printing. Octavo (16 x 10cm), pp.212; [4]. Softcover, all edges tinted yellow, in publisher's illustrated wrappers, front cover is priced 95c. No ink names or writing. Spine a little rubbed. Very good. Bibliographer's copy, with pencil ownership within..... More
Moonraker.
New York: Jove Books, 1981. [James Bond] First Jove Paperback edition, first printing. Octavo (16 x 10cm), pp.232; [2]. Softcover, all edges tinted yellow, in publisher's illustrated wrappers, front cover is priced $2.25. No ink names or writing, discreet book shop stamp to first leaf, covers a little rubbed, spine..... More
Moonraker.
London: Jonathan Cape, 1955. [James Bond] FIRST EDITION, Binding 'A'. Brigadier Fitzroy Maclean's copy, with SIGNED notepaper and Cape book label loosely inserted. Octavo (20 x 14cm), pp.256. Publisher's black cloth-effect paper over boards, titled in silver, in 'flame' design dust-wrapper by Kenneth Lewis priced at 10/6 to both front..... More
Moonraker.
London: Jonathan Cape. March 1964. [James Bond novel] Vintage hardcover. Octavo (19 x 13cm), pp.256. Seventh printing, export copy. Publisher's black cloth-effect paper over boards, titled in silver, in 'flame' design dust-wrapper by Kenneth Lewis priced at 16s. Contents generally clean, page edges toned, bibliographer's bookplate to f.e.p., old tape..... More