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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 Spy Who Loved Me.
London: Jonathan Cape, 1962. [Espionage novel] FIRST EDITION, State A. Crown Octavo (21 x 13cm), pp.221. Publisher's cloth-effect paper over boards with scarlet endpapers in pictorial dust-jacket illustrated by Richard Chopping, priced at 15s. SIGNED in black ink to half title by Roger Moore, and initialled opposite by my respected..... More
The Spy Who Loved Me.
London: Jonathan Cape, 1962. [Spy thriller] FIRST EDITION, State B. Crown Octavo (21 x 13cm), pp.221; [1]. Publisher's cloth-effect paper over boards with scarlet endpapers in pictorial dust-jacket illustrated by Richard Chopping, priced a 15s. Scarce VARIANT ISSUE with the dropped spacer within the author's name. From the bibliography, 'very..... More
Thrilling Cities.
London: Jonathan Cape, 1963. [Travel / Adventure] FIRST EDITION in the first state dust-jacket (laminated rear flap). Large octavo (23 x 16cm), pp.223; [1] blank, erratum slip tipped-in at p.223. Illustrated with photographic plates. Publisher's quarter white cloth over patterned grey boards, black topstain and endpapers, pictorial wrapper by Paul..... More
Thunderball.
London: Pan Books, 1964. Promotional Copy for Player's Cigarettes, with 'Domino' letter insert. Slim octavo, pp.234; [2], blank; [4], advertisements. Pictorial card wrappers with wrap-around movie artwork; this is the correct (fourteenth) printing used for this promotion which includes a printed notepaper 'handwritten' by Domino to James Bond (although addressed..... More
Thunderball.
London: Jonathan Cape, 1961. [Spy thriller] FIRST EDITION, FIRST ISSUE, Binding 'A'. Octavo (19 x 13cm), pp.254. Publisher's cloth-effect paper over boards with embossed skeleton hand design to upper board, gilt titles to spine. In dust-wrapper illustrated by Richard Chopping priced at 15s. A lightly used copy in mildly toned..... More
Too Hot to Handle (Moonraker).
New York, NY: Perma Books, 1957. FIRST PRINTING. Paperback (17 x 11cm), pp.125; [1] advertisement. Publisher's illustrated card covers, all edges tinted red. Some very light rubbing and a couple of creases to corners otherwise a clean bright copy of a fragile book, housed in a custom-made gilt-titled cloth chemise..... More
'Where Shall John Go? -Jamaica' contained within 'Horizon' Magazine. Edited by Cyril Connolly Vol.16, No.96, December 1947.
London: Horizon, 2 Lansdowne Terrace, London WC1. Printed at the Curwen Press. 1947. Price 2s 6d. Magazine format, printed covers. Contains the first appearance of Fleming's article on Jamaica, issued as the thirteenth part of a travel series run by Horizon, which was later expanded and collected in book-form as..... More
You Only Live Twice.
New York, NY: MJF Books, 1995. [James Bond novel] Octavo (21 x 14cm), pp.256. Publisher's hardback in illustrated dust-wrapper. Trival sunning otherwise a fine copy. A quality hardcover reissue. Gilbert A12b(10), p.409. More
You Only Live Twice.
London: Jonathan Cape, 1964. [Spy novel] FIRST EDITION, First State, Binding A. SIGNED BY THE AUTHOR. 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..... More
Casino Royale, Live and Let Die, Goldfinger.
London: Vintage Classics, 2017. [James Bond] NEW EDITION. All first printings of this edition. Three volumes, hardcovers, with an introduction by John Cork. Octavo (21 x 14cm). Publisher's coloured cloth bindings in dust-wrappers illustrated by Levente Szabo. As new, being carefully dark stored by ourselves since publication. The complete set..... More
Dr. No.
London: Pan Books Ltd. 1960. The first Pan paperback edition. 'Great Pan' series G335. Pp.189 + 3 (adverts). Publisher's illustrated softcovers with original price 2/6 to upper panel. Pages tanned as usual, some spine roll from reading, minor wear. A very good copy, provided with a protective clear plastic jacket..... More
'Goldfinger' (Greatest James Bond Thriller) contained within 'Saga' magazine for men. Volume 28, Number 4, July 1964.
New York: McFadden-Bartell Corp., 1964. Magazine format in pictorial paper wraps. Original price: 25 cents. Housed in an elegant gilt-titled collectors' cloth case. Some expected toning to newsprint paper, small loss to foot of front cover, neat strip of tape at spine. Very good. A condensed version of the novel..... More
Goldfinger.
New York: Macmillan [Printed and bound in Great Britain], 1959. [Spy thriller] FIRST US EDITION. 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 $3.00 (with lower price $2.95 clipped off, as..... More
Goldfinger.
New York: Macmillan [Printed and bound in Great Britain], 1959. [Spy thriller] FIRST US EDITION with the EARLIEST STATE of the jacket. 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, with front flap..... 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, pictorial dust-wrapper designed by Richard Chopping, priced at 15s. Edges a little dusty/toned, very clean wrapper. A lightly used copy which shows extremely..... More
A James Bond Omnibus. Containing Live and Let Die, Diamonds are Forever and Dr No.
London: Book Club Associates 1973. FIRST EDITION of the first James Bond omnibus to be published in the UK, preceding the Jonathan Cape equivalent. Publisher's hardcover in original metallic effect dust-wrapper. A used copy with some toning to edges of text block. Jacket shows general use, some scuffing and soiling..... More
A James Bond Omnibus. Containing Live and Let Die, Diamonds are Forever and Dr No.
London: Jonathan Cape, 1973. [Spy novels] FIRST CAPE EDITION of the first James Bond omnibus to be published in the UK. Octavo (19 x 13cm), pp.748. Publisher's cloth-effect paper over boards, blocked in gilt to the spine, in the metallic-effect dust-wrapper printed in black and red. A nice clean copy..... More
Live and Let Die (a James Bond novel).
London: Jonathan Cape, 1954. [James Bond] FIRST ISSUE, Second State. Octavo (20 x 14cm), pp.240. Publisher's black cloth-effect paper-covered boards, titled and decorated in gilt, with dust-wrapper, priced twice as issued, at 10/6. With 'author's skill' text incorrectly spaced to the rear panel, as described in the bibliography, page 61..... More
The Man With The Golden Gun.
New York, NY: Signet Books / New American Library, June 1959. The true first paperback edition, preceding the UK softcover printing. Signet Books' series S1670. Octavo (16 x 10cm),pp.192. Publisher's illustrated softcovers with original price 35c to upper panel, all edges tinted red. Usual toning to cheap paper stock, joints..... More
On Her Majesty's Secret Service (a James Bond novel).
London: Jonathan Cape, 1963 [actually issued September 1962]. UNCORRECTED PROOF copy of the first edition in publisher's green softcovers. Pp.288. The text features numerous changes to the published text, and "has more errors and required more amendments than any other Fleming title" Gilbert, p.354. Some acceptable general wear, ink note..... More
On Her Majesty's Secret Service (a James Bond novel).
London: Jonathan Cape, 1963. FIRST EDITION, SIGNED LIMITED ISSUE. Octavo (195 x 35mm), pp.288. Colour frontispiece of the author by Charles Amherst Villiers. Signed by Ian Fleming to limitation page marked 'presentation' Publisher's quarter vellum over black cloth with gilt titles to spine, top edge gilt, in original clear plastic..... More
On Her Majesty's Secret Service (a James Bond novel).
London: Jonathan Cape, 1963. [Spy novel] FIRST EDITION, SIGNED LIMITED ISSUE (no.73). Octavo (195 x 35mm), pp.288. Colour frontispiece of the author by Charles Amherst Villiers. Signed by Ian Fleming to limitation page. Publisher's quarter vellum over black cloth with gilt titles to spine, top edge gilt, in original clear..... More
On Her Majesty's Secret Service.
London: Pan Books, 1965. 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 x10cm), pp.238; [2], advertisements. Softcover in pictorial card wrappers, priced 3/6 to upper cover. Minor wear, toned to extremities..... More
The Spy Who Loved Me
London: Jonathan Cape. 1962 [actually issued October 1961]. UNCORRECTED PROOF copy of the First Edition. Softcovers, octavo (18 x 11cm), pp.221. Publisher's green wraps, with titles printed in black. Some rubbing and wrinkling to spine, some damp marking within. Remains presentable. An inexpensive copy of the scarce proof; only 500..... More
The Spy Who Loved Me
London: Jonathan Cape, 1962 [actually issued October 1961]. UNCORRECTED PROOF copy of the First Edition. Octavo (18 x 11cm), pp.221. Publisher's green wraps, with titles printed in black. Contents clean, front cover has a few localised marks; very good indeed. An attractive copy of an uncommon item, housed in a...... More