"Outside of a dog, man's best friend is a book. Inside of a dog, it's too dark to read."
— Groucho Marx
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
Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. The Magical Car.
London: Queen Anne Press, in association with Adrian Harrington, [2022]. [Childrens adventures] CLASSIC READERS EDITION. Octavo (22 x 14cm), pp.112. Publisher's racing green-coloured hardcovers stamped in gilt, decorated with the author's initials in gilt to cover, plain black endpapers. New book. Strictly limited to one copy per customer. One of..... 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. The entire run of the popular British book club editions, which began in 1956 with 'Live and Let Die'. In total eleven of the fourteen..... 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). Elegantly hand-bound in half dark blue calf over matching cloth sides, spine gilt-lettered in six compartments with raised bands. Some toning and and occasional spotting to the cheap paperstock, externally..... 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
The Diamond Smugglers.
London: Queen Anne Press, in association with Adrian Harrington, [2022]. [True Crime] CLASSIC READERS EDITION. Octavo (22 x 14cm), pp.144. Publisher's stone-coloured hardcovers stamped in gilt, decorated with author's initials in gilt to cover, plain black endpapers. New book. Strictly limited to one copy per customer. One of a selection..... More
Diamonds are Forever.
London: Jonathan Cape, 1956. [James Bond] FIRST EDITION ASSOCIATION COPY, First Impression, Binding A. Octavo (20 x 14cm), pp.257. Publisher's black cloth-effect paper over boards, titled in silver, in pictorial dust-wrapper designed by Pat Marriott, housed in a quarter leather clamshell box. An association copy, formerly belonging to Sefton Delmer..... More
Diamonds are Forever.
London: Jonathan Cape, 1959. [Spy thriller] Third impression. 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 18s. A clean copy of the book in a slightly chipped jacket dating from circa 1963, listing later titles..... More
Diamonds are Forever.
London: Queen Anne Press, in association with Adrian Harrington, [2022]. [Spy thriller] CLASSIC READERS EDITION. Octavo (22 x 14cm), pp.288. Publisher's granite-coloured hardcovers stamped in gilt, decorated with the author's initials in gilt to cover, plain black endpapers. New book. Strictly limited to one copy per customer. One of a...... More
Dr. No.
London: Jonathan Cape, 1958. [James Bond] FIRST EDITION, true FIRST STATE. Octavo (20 x 14cm), pp.256. Publisher's black cloth-effect paper over boards, EARLIEST binding design without the 'Dancing Lady' design on the upper board, silver titles to spine, pictorial dust-wrapper designed by Pat Marriott priced at 13/6. No inscriptions. Binding..... More
Dr. No.
London: Jonathan Cape, 1958. [James Bond] FIRST EDITION, INSCRIBED BY THE AUTHOR, with full signature. Octavo (20 x 14cm), pp.256. Publisher's black cloth-effect paper over boards, 'Dancing Lady' design to the front cover, silver titles to spine, pictorial dust-wrapper designed by Pat Marriott. With presentation note to flyleaf "To /..... More
Dr. No.
London: Jonathan Cape, 1958. [James Bond] FIRST EDITION, true FIRST ISSUE. Octavo (20 x 14cm), pp.256. Publisher's black cloth-effect paper over boards, EARLIEST binding design without the 'Dancing Lady' design on the upper board, silver titles to spine, pictorial dust-wrapper designed by Pat Marriott priced at 13/6. Contents with a...... More
Dr. No.
London: Jonathan Cape, 1962. [Thriller] SIGNED AND INSCRIBED BY THE AUTHOR. Fourth impression. Octavo (20 x 14cm), pp.256. Publisher's dark brown cloth in the original dust-wrapper illustrated by Pat Marriott. With author's presentation note to the flyleaf in blue ink; To / Lou / Whom I must / meet soon!..... 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: 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, jacket a little edge worn, with the usual faded lettering to the spine..... 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, jacket lightly handled with a little edge wear, slightly toned to spine. A...... 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, pictorial dust-wrapper priced at 15s. Lightly handled, with some mild sunning to the spine, panels are clean with a few minor impression marks. Overall, a...... 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: Foyle [The Book Club], no date [1958]. [Spy thriller] Octavo (19 x 13cm), pp.253; [3] blank. Publisher's pale blue cloth lettered in black to the spine, in pictorial dust-wrapper illustrated by Richard Chopping. A little dusty, jacket with a few small chips to spine ends; very good indeed. Gilbert..... More
From Russia, With Love.
London: Jonathan Cape, 1976. [Thriller] Octavo (18 x 12cm), pp.253. Publisher's black cloth-effect paper over boards blocked in silver and red metallic, illustraed dust-wrapper by Richard Chopping, priced at £2.95. Ex-library copy with associated stamps and markings. A used copy, with some rubbing to binding. The jacket has two strips..... More
From Russia, With Love.
London: Jonathan Cape, 1957. [Thriller] FIRST EDITION. Octavo (19 x 13cm), pp.253; [3], blank. Elegantly hand-bound in half black oasis morocco over matching cloth sides, spine gilt-lettered in six compartments with raised bands. Contents clean (a few light, soft creases to second gathering), exterior unmarked. A near fine copy in..... More
From Russia, With Love.
London: Foyle [The Book Club], no date [1958]. [Spy thriller] FOYLES BOOK CLUB EDITION. Octavo (19 x 13cm), pp.253; [3] blank. Publisher's pale blue cloth lettered in black to the spine, in pictorial dust-wrapper illustrated by Richard Chopping. Some minor discolour to rear cover, sectional toning to text block, neat..... More
Goldfinger.
London: Pan Books, 1959. The FIRST Pan paperback edition. 'Great Pan' series G455. Octavo (16 x 10cm), pp.223; [1], advertisement. Publisher's illustrated softcovers priced at 2s 6d. Pages tanned as usual, covers with a few marks and soft creases, rubbed to joints with small surface chip to corner, front cover..... More