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
Octopussy (James Bond short stories).
London: Jonathan Cape, 1966. [Short stories] LEATHER BOUND FIRST EDITION, bibliographer's copy. Octavo (19 x 13cm), pp.95. Elegantly bound in black half oasis morocco over matching cloth sides, spine gilt-titled in six compartments with traditional raised bands, red endpapers. A clean copy, inside and out. Jon Gilbert's copy, with his..... More
Octopussy (James Bond short stories).
London: Jonathan Cape, 1966. [Short stories] FIRST EDITION, FIRST ISSUE, BINDING A. Brigadier Fitzroy Maclean's copy, with his visiting card and printed label loosely inserted. Octavo (19 x 13cm), pp.95. Publisher's dark grey cloth-effect paper over boards, blocked in silver, patterned grey endpapers, pictorial dust-wrapper illustrated by Richard Chopping. Original..... More
Octopussy (James Bond short stories).
London: Jonathan Cape, 1966. [Short stories] FIRST EDITION, FIRST ISSUE, BINDING A. Octavo (19 x 13cm), pp.95. Publisher's dark grey cloth-effect paper over boards, blocked in silver, patterned grey endpapers, pictorial dust-wrapper illustrated by Richard Chopping. Original price 10s.6d. printed to the front flap. A clean, fine copy in like..... More
Octopussy (James Bond short stories).
London: Jonathan Cape, 1966. [Short stories] FIRST EDITION, BINDING A. Octavo (19 x 13cm), pp.95. Publisher's dark grey cloth-effect paper over boards, blocked in silver, patterned grey endpapers, pictorial dust-wrapper illustrated by Richard Chopping. Publisher's price label £1.25. (only) to the front flap. Housed in a custom-made clamshell box. A...... More
Octopussy (James Bond short stories).
New York, NY: New American Library, 1966. [Short adventures] First American Printing being the FIRST ILLUSTRATED EDITION. Octavo (21 x 14cm), pp.121. Publisher's cloth in pictorial wrapper, mustard coloured endpapers, twelve black and white illustrations plus vignette illustration to title page, pictorial dust-wrapper priced at $3.50. A clean, fine copy..... More
Octopussy (James Bond short stories).
New York, NY: New American Library, 1966. [Short adventures] American book club edition, bibliographer's copy. Octavo (21 x 14cm), pp.121. Publisher's cloth in pictorial wrapper, white endpapers, top edge red, twelve black and white illustrations plus vignette illustration to title page, pictorial dust-wrapper. No inscriptions, contents clean. A fine copy..... More
Octopussy and the Living Daylights.
London: Jonathan Cape, 1966. [Short stories] FIRST EDITION, FIRST IMPRESSION, BINDING A. Octavo (19 x 13cm), pp.95. Publisher's dark grey cloth-effect paper over boards, blocked in silver, patterned grey endpapers, pictorial dust-wrapper illustrated by Richard Chopping. Priced at £4.95 via publisher's label to flap. A clean, fine copy in a...... More
Octopussy and the Living Daylights.
London: Jonathan Cape, 1966. [Short stories] FIRST EDITION. Octavo (19 x 13cm), pp.95. Publisher's dark grey cloth-effect paper over boards, blocked in silver, patterned grey endpapers. With the dust-jacket illustrated by Richard Chopping, with publisher's price label showing 16s / 80p. One production mark to half title else a fine..... More
Octopussy and the Living Daylights.
London: Jonathan Cape, 1966. [Short stories] FIRST EDITION. Octavo (19 x 13cm), pp.95. Publisher's dark grey cloth-effect paper over boards, blocked in silver, patterned grey endpapers, pictorial dust-wrapper illustrated by Richard Chopping with publisher's price label showing 16s/80p. A fine copy in like wrapper with some soiling to reverse side..... More
Octopussy. In 'Playboy' Magazine. March-April 1966.
Chicago, Illinois: Playboy Incorporated, 1966. [Spy novel serialisation] Original Price 75 cents per issue; 2 issues. Magazine format, illustrated. Housed in an elegant protective gilt-titled black buckram case. Overall size 30 x 23cm. Light toning and handling. Near fine copies. Contains the first US appearance of Octopussy, the complete serial..... More
Octopussy. In 'Playboy' Magazine. March-April 1966.
Chicago, Illinois: Playboy Incorporated, 1966. [Spy novel serialisation] BRITISH EDITION. FIRST APPEARANCE. Two issues. Magazine format, stapled, illustrated. Original Price 75 cents per issue, also priced for UK (8s. 6d.) and Sweden (6.50 Krone). Includes the international subscription form stapled in at p.12-13. Housed in an elegant protective gilt-titled black..... More
On Her Majesty's Secret Service [within] Great Tales of Adventure.
London, Sydney, Cape Town, Montreal: Reader's Digest, 1995. [Thriller collection] FIRST EDITION thus. Volume Two (of two), containing Ian Fleming's 1963 James Bond novel. Octavo (22 x 14cm), pp.512. With colour plate illustrations. Bound in publisher's illustrated glazed covers. No jacket was issued. Cheap paper toned, spine gently sunned. Very..... More
On Her Majesty's Secret Service [within] Great Tales of Adventure. With an Introduction by Kenneth More, CBE.
London, Sydney, Cape Town, Montreal: Reader's Digest, 1995. [Thriller collection] 'Deluxe' issue. Two volumes, octavo (22 x 14 x 8cm), pp.512; 512. With colour plate illustrations. Publisher's red vinyl-covered boards blocked in black and gilt, with ribbon marker. No jacket was issued. Light spotting to top edge, lacks f.e.p., else..... More
On Her Majesty's Secret Service.
London: Jonathan Cape, 1963. [Spy novel] FIRST EDITION, SIGNED PRESENTATION COPY. Octavo (19 x 13cm), pp.288. Publisher's dark grey cloth-effect paper over boards with silver titles to spine, in original jacket designed by Richard Chopping, priced at 16s. Inscribed by the author to his close friend John Hayward; "To John..... More
On Her Majesty's Secret Service.
London: Jonathan Cape, 1963. SIGNED BY IAN FLEMING and additionally INSCRIBED BY THE DEDICATEE 'Sable Basilisk' (Robin de la Lanne Mirrlees). Second Impression. Publisher's black cloth with silver titles to spine. Housed in a leather-spined clamshell box. Very good indeed, with a little edge-spotting, neat reference number '1M' to flyleaf..... More
On Her Majesty's Secret Service.
London: Queen Anne Press, in association with Adrian Harrington, [2022]. [Spy novel] CLASSIC READERS EDITION. Octavo (22 x 14cm), pp.320. Publisher's Alpine white hardcovers stamped in gilt, decorated with the author's initials in gilt to cover, plain black endpapers. Absolutely fine/as new. One of a selection of titles by Ian..... More
On Her Majesty's Secret Service.
London: Jonathan Cape, 1963. [Spy novel] FIRST EDITION, Binding 'A'. Octavo (19 x 13cm), pp.288. Publisher's dark grey cloth-effect paper over boards with silver titles to spine, in original jacket designed by Richard Chopping. A near fine copy of the book in a slightly nicked, price-clipped dust-wrapper. Housed in a...... More
On Her Majesty's Secret Service.
London: Jonathan Cape, 1963. [Spy novel] FIRST EDITION, Binding 'A'. Octavo (19 x 13cm), pp.288. Publisher's dark grey cloth-effect paper over boards with silver titles to spine, in original jacket designed by Richard Chopping priced at 16s. Small, neat owner name, slightly dusty, jacket is rather fresh with a little..... More
On Her Majesty's Secret Service.
London: Pan Books, 1965. [James Bond] First UK Paperback edition (May 1965), being the fourth printing overall- the first three printings (September-December 1964) were not for sale in the United Kingdom. Octavo (16 x 10cm), pp.238 [2]. Softcover in pictorial card wrappers, priced 3/6 to upper cover. Minor wear, toned..... More
On Her Majesty's Secret Service.
London: Jonathan Cape, 1963. [Spy novel] FIRST EDITION, Binding 'A'. Octavo (19 x 13cm), pp.288. Publisher's dark grey cloth-effect paper over boards with silver titles to spine, in original jacket designed by Richard Chopping priced at 16s. A used copy/collection filler. Book has soiling to fore-edge, blue ink inscription to..... More
On Her Majesty's Secret Service.
London: Jonathan Cape, 1963. [Spy novel] FIRST EDITION, Binding 'A'. Octavo (19 x 13cm), pp.288. Publisher's dark grey cloth-effect paper over boards with No inscriptions, some dustiness/spotting, faint ring-mark to rear of jacket otherwise clean; remains quite fresh. An attractive copy, housed in a bespoke gilt-stamped clamshell box. The title..... More
On Her Majesty's Secret Service.
London: Jonathan Cape, 1963. [Spy novel] FIRST EDITION, Binding 'A'. Octavo (19 x 13cm), pp.288. Publisher's dark grey cloth-effect paper over boards with silver titles to spine, in original jacket designed by Richard Chopping. A well used copy; inside cloth joint showing, tape marks to paste-downs, contents thumbed, jacket rather..... More
On Her Majesty's Secret Service.
London: Pan Books, 1965. [James Bond] First UK Paperback edition (May 1965), being the fourth printing overall- the first three printings (September-December 1964) were not for sale in the United Kingdom. Octavo (16 x 10cm), pp.238 [2]. Softcover in pictorial card wrappers, priced 3/6 to upper cover. No ink names..... More
On Her Majesty's Secret Service.
London: Jonathan Cape, 1963. [Spy novel] FIRST EDITION, bibliographer's copy. Octavo (19 x 13cm), pp.288. Elegantly bound in half black oasis morocco over black cloth sides, with gilt titles, raised bands to spine, cream endpapers, original gilt foil-stamped covers bound in at rear. A few light reading mark/spots within, exterior..... More
On Her Majesty's Secret Service.
London: Jonathan Cape, 1963. [Spy novel] FIRST EDITION. Octavo (19 x 13cm), pp.288. Elegantly bound in half black oasis morocco over black cloth sides, with gilt titles, raised bands to spine, cream endpapers, original gilt foil-stamped covers bound in at rear. A clean copy, inside and out. Near fine, in..... More