"You can't get a cup of tea big enough or a book long enough to suit me."
— C. S. Lewis
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 Anniversary Edition of Ian Fleming's James Bond Novels. 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; Octopussy and The Living Daylights.
London: Penguin Books, 2002. [James Bond] LIMITED HARDBACK SET. Complete in 14 volumes. Small octavo (41 x 18cm). Cloth-bound hardcovers in photographic dustwrappers by Toby MacFarlan Pond. A fine set, presented in a black cloth-covered slipcase with fleece lining and ribbon pulls. This was the first James Bond hardback published..... 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 light toning and mild spotting, jacket with some chips and..... 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
Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.
London: Paul Hamlyn, 1968. [Children's Illustrated] FIRST THUS. Octavo (22 x 16cm), pp.[24]. With uncredited colour illustrations to every page. Publisher's glossy colour-illustrated hard covers. Yellow pastedowns. A brown and green gift inscription to title page, dated 1969. Well-handled, with some light rubbing and bumping to covers. Spine sunned. Very..... 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
Complete Paperback First Editions of Ian Fleming's James Bond Novels. 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, 1955-1967. [Spy fiction] All paperback First Editions. Fourteen volumes, octavo (18 x 12 x 19cm). Publisher's illustrated softcovers. Live and Let Die being the 'thick' paper variant. All UK printings [Live and Let Die, Dr No, For Your Eyes Only, OHMSS (60c), You Only Live Twice and..... More
Complete UK Book Club Editions of Ian Fleming's James Bond Novels. Comprising: Live and Let Die, 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.
London: Foyle [The Book Club], 1956-1966. [James Bond] COMPLETE BOOK CLUB EDITIONS. 11 volumes, octavo (20 x 14 x 26cm). Publisher's hardbacks in illustrated dust-wrappers. Spines toned/browned, some chips and tears. The entire run of the popular British book club editions, which began in 1956 with 'Live and Let Die'..... More
The Diamond Smugglers.
New York, NY: Collier Books, 1964. [True Crime/Documentary] FIRST AMERICAN PAPERBACK PRINTING. Octavo (18 x 11cm), pp.124; [4], advertisement. With black and white photographic plates. Publisher's softcovers priced at 95c. A lightly used copy with some mild creasing and wear. Very good indeed. Gilbert A15b (3). More
Diamonds are Forever.
London: Jonathan Cape, 1956. FIRST EDITION, First Impression, Binding A. Octavo, 257 pp. Publisher's black cloth-effect paper over boards, titled in silver, in pictorial dustwrapper designed by Pat Marriott, housed in a quarter leather clamshell box. An ASSOCIATION COPY, formerly belonging to Sefton Delmer, a fellow intelligence agent, journalist colleague..... More
Diamonds are Forever.
London: Jonathan Cape, 1956. FIRST EDITION, Binding B (Type 'B' cloth, designated without priority). Octavo (20 x 14cm), pp.257; [1], blank. Publisher's black cloth titled in silver, with the pictorial dust-jacket designed by Pat Marriott, priced at 12/6. A well-preserved copy, gently handled and with some light rubbing and a...... More
Diamonds are Forever.
London: Jonathan Cape, 1956. [Spy thriller] FIRST EDITION, Binding B (Type 'B' cloth, designated without priority). Octavo (20 x 14cm), pp.257; [1], blank. Publisher's black cloth titled in silver, with the pictorial dust-jacket designed by Pat Marriott (price-clipped). Light spotting to edges and extremities else a near fine copy of..... More
Dr. No.
London: Jonathan Cape, 1958. [James Bond] FIRST EDITION. Octavo (20 x 14cm), pp.256. Publisher's black cloth-effect paper over boards, silver titles to spine, in pictorial dust wrapper designed by Pat Marriott. Second state binding, with the 'Dancing Lady' design to the upper. Edges a little dusty/spotted else a fine copy..... More
Dr. No.
London: Jonathan Cape, 1958. [James Bond] FIRST EDITION. Octavo (20 x 14cm), pp.256. Publisher's black cloth-effect paper over boards, silver titles to spine, in pictorial dust wrapper designed by Pat Marriott priced at 13/6. Second state binding, with the 'Dancing Lady' design to the upper. Edges a little spotted else..... More
For Your Eyes Only.
New York, NY: The Viking Press, 1960. FIRST US EDITION. Octavo, pp.218. Publisher's yellow and green cloth in pictorial dust-wrapper illustrated by Richard Chopping. No inscriptions or price-clipping. Dampmark to rear joint and top edge else book is fine. Jacket is lightly rubbed with a few small chips to spine..... More
For Your Eyes Only.
London: Jonathan Cape, 1960. [James Bond short stories] FIRST EDITION. First Impression, Binding A. Octavo (19 x 13cm), pp.252. Publisher's black cloth-effect paper over boards lettered in silver to the spine, pictorial dust-wrapper. Contents clean. A near fine copy in similar, price-clipped wrapper, with a little soiling and rubbing to..... More
For Your Eyes Only.
New York, NY: The Viking Press, 1960. FIRST US EDITION. ASSOCIATION COPY, INSCRIBED BY THE AUTHOR. Octavo, pp.218. Publisher's yellow and green cloth in pictorial dust-wrapper illustrated by Richard Chopping, priced at $3.50. With presentation note to the flyleaf 'The rest will have / to wait. / x / Ian..... More
For Your Eyes Only.
London: Foyles' Book Club, n.d. [1961]. UK BOOK CLUB EDITION. ASSOCIATION COPY, INSCRIBED BY THE AUTHOR. Octavo, pp.192. Publisher's green cloth in pictorial dust-wrapper illustrated by Cuthill. With presentation note to the flyleaf 'The sixth will have / to wait. / x / Ian. (underlined). A fine copy in a...... More
For Your Eyes Only.
London: Jonathan Cape, 1960. [James Bond short stories] FIRST EDITION, Binding A. Octavo (19 x 13cm), pp.252. Publisher's black cloth-effect paper over boards, titled in gilt to spine, pictorial dust-wrapper priced at 15s. Contents clean, no inscriptions, a few marks to edges of text block. Wrapper is a little dampstained..... More
For Your Eyes Only.
London: Jonathan Cape, 1960. [James Bond short stories] FIRST EDITION, Binding A. Octavo (19 x 13cm), pp.252. Publisher's black cloth-effect paper over boards, titled in gilt to spine, pictorial dust-wrapper priced at 15s. Contents clean, wrapper shows some edge wear, lettering not faded but spine panel rubbed and toned. An..... More
For Your Eyes Only.
London: Foyles [The Book Club], no date [1965]. [Spy thriller] FIRST BOOK CLUB EDITION. Octavo (19 x 13cm), pp.192. Publisher's green cloth lettered in black, with pictorial dust-wrapper illustrated by Cuthill. Edges and endpapers spotted, jacket worn with some chips to head and tail of spine. A used yet serviceable..... More
For Your Eyes Only. Five Secret Occasions in the Life of James Bond.
London: Pan Books, 1962. [Short stories] FIRST UK EDITION in paperback. Octavo (16 x 10cm). 'Great Pan' series G551. Pp.191; [1], advertisement. Publisher's illustrated softcovers with printed price 2/6 to front cover. Some acceptable handling and wear, small pen mark to upper; very good. Gilbert, Jon: Ian Fleming The Bibliography..... More
From Russia With Love.
London: Jonathan Cape, 1957. [Spy novel] FIRST EDITION, BINDING A. Octavo (19 x 13cm), pp.253; [3], blank. Publisher's black cloth-effect paper over boards, blocked in silver and red metallic foil, pictorial dust-jacket by Richard Chopping priced at 13/6. Neat ownership (April 1957), else book is clean and fine. Jacket with..... More
From Russia With Love.
London: Jonathan Cape, 1957. [Spy novel] FIRST EDITION, BINDING A. Octavo (19 x 13cm), pp.253; [3], blank. Publisher's black cloth-effect paper over boards, blocked in silver and red metallic foil, pictorial dust-jacket by Richard Chopping priced at 13/6. A lightly used copy with a few minor marks to edges and..... More
Goldfinger.
London: Jonathan Cape, 1959. [Spy thriller] FIRST EDITION, FIRST ISSUE. Octavo (20 x 13cm), pp.318. Publisher's black cloth-effect paper over boards with 'skull' design stamped to upper, in original pictorial dust-wrapper designed by Richard Chopping, priced at 15s. No inscriptions, some minor toning, jacket a shade darkened to spine, light..... More
'The Guns of James Bond' contained within 'Sports Illustrated' Magazine Vol 16, No.11, 19th March 1962.
Chicago, Illinois: Time Inc., 1962. [James Bond Reference] FIRST US APPEARANCE. pp.84. Original price 25 cents. Magazine format, illustrated. Housed in a bespoke gilt-titled buckram chemise case. Contains the first American appearance of this original Ian Fleming feature entitled 'The Guns of James Bond', which not published in book-form until..... More