"A book should serve as the axe for the frozen sea within us."
— Franz Kafka
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
Moonraker.
London: Jonathan Cape, 1955. FIRST IMPRESSION, FIRST PRINTING, BINDING A (Fabroleen material). This version with 'shoot' correctly printed to page 10. Octavo, pp.256. Publisher's black cloth-effect paper over boards, titled in silver, in 'flame' design dust-wrapper by Kenneth Lewis. Presented in a custom made leather-spined clamshell case. Both book and..... More
Moonraker.
London: Pan Books, 1956. The 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 rubbed and sunned; near fine. One of the..... More
Moonraker.
London: Pan Books, 1956. The 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, reading lean to spine, joints rubbed, small split to head. Very good. One..... More
Moonraker.
London: Jonathan Cape, 1955. 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, in 'flame' design dust-wrapper by Kenneth Lewis priced at 10/6. A moderately used copy with some acceptable marks..... More
Moonraker.
London: Jonathan Cape. 1955. FIRST EDITION. Octavo, pp.256. This is the scarce variant on the thin paper stock with 'shoo' for 'shoot' printed to p.10. Publisher's black cloth-effect paper over boards, titled in silver, in 'flame' design dust-wrapper by Kenneth Lewis. In a leather-spined clamshell box. The edges of text..... More
Octopussy (James Bond short stories).
New York: New American Library, 1966. 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. No inscriptions or price-clipping, jacket edgeworn and rubbed in places..... 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. Jacket with one short..... More
![Octopussy and the Living Daylights [James Bond short stories]. Ian Lancaster FLEMING](/pictures/thumb/50025.jpg?v=1513346118)
Octopussy and the Living Daylights [James Bond short stories].
London: Jonathan Cape, 1966. [Short stories] FIRST EDITION, FIRST ISSUE. Octavo (19 x 13cm), pp.95. In publisher's dark grey cloth-effect paper over boards in pictorial wrapper. Original price 10s.6d. printed to front flap. Single owner name to first blank, spine a little toned, sticker pull to front panel. Very good..... More
![Octopussy and the Living Daylights [James Bond short stories]. Ian Lancaster FLEMING](/pictures/thumb/55002.jpg?v=1575910662)
Octopussy and the Living Daylights [James Bond short stories].
London: Jonathan Cape, 1966. [Short stories] FIRST EDITION, FIRST ISSUE. Octavo (19 x 13cm), pp.95. In publisher's dark grey cloth-effect paper over boards in pictorial wrapper. Original price 10s.6d. printed to front flap. Lightly toned to edges, light spotting to wrapper. Very good. Gilbert A14a (1.1). More
Octopussy and the Living Daylights.
London: Jonathan Cape, 1966. UNCORRECTED PROOF copy of the first edition. In printed green wrappers and the pictorial dust-jacket which differs considerably to the published version. The text features some significant differences within the preliminaries leaves, plus literals and minor variations throughout. An attractive copy housed in a custom-made leather..... More
Octopussy and The Living Daylights.
London: Jonathan Cape, 1966. [James Bond Short Stories] FIRST EDITION, third issue. Octavo (20 x 14cm), pp.95; [1]. Publisher's dark brown cloth with silver titles to spine and upper board. With the colour-illustrated dust-jacket by Richard Chopping, repriced by the publisher to 16s / 80p with a sticker on the..... More
Octopussy.
New York, NY: Signet Books, July 1967. The true first paperback edition, as advertised on the cover 'Never Before in Paperback'. The UK Pan edition was published simultaneously (Gilbert, p.463). Signet Books' series P3200 (being the second issue). Octavo (16 x 10cm), pp.126; [2], advertisements. Publisher's illustrated softcovers with original..... 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. [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 lightly used copy, clean within, a few marks to corner of front..... 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
'The Perplexing Date Line' contained within 'Holiday' magazine. Vol 28, No.5, November 1960
Philadelphia, Curtis Publishing Co. 1960. pp.226 Price 60cents. Magazine format, colour illustrated covers. Some creasing/edgewear. Very good. Contains the first appearance of this Ian Fleming article, being the original full-length essay; it was cut and re-named 'Honolulu' when published as the fourth chapter of 'Thrilling Cities' (November 1963). More
Quantum of Solace. The Complete James Bond Short Stories.
London: Penguin 007, 2008. [Spy fiction] FIRST EDITION. Octavo (18 x 14cm), pp.301, with an introduction by the respected Bond authority Henry Chancellor. In the prize-winning binding of silver-grey cloth with a silenced Walther PPK motif to upper, burgundy endpapers. Complete with the wraparound sleeve, which is gummed together at..... More
!['Russians Make Mistakes Too' [Soviet Espionage] contained within 'Esquire' magazine. Volume LIV,...](/pictures/thumb/53057.jpg?v=1554910428)
'Russians Make Mistakes Too' [Soviet Espionage] contained within 'Esquire' magazine. Volume LIV, No.5, November 1960.
New York: Arnold Gingrich / Esquire, 1960. Magazine format in pictorial paper wraps. Original price: 35 cents. Minor wear else fine. This 4-page story appears on p.96, as part of Esquire's 'Handbook for Professional Spies'. Some handling, spine with some expected wear. Very good. The first appearance of this essay..... More
The Spy Who Loved Me.
London: Jonathan Cape, 1962. 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. Very good indeed in similar wrapper, with a 5mm tear at the crown. The tenth book in the..... More
The Spy Who Loved Me.
London: Jonathan Cape, 1964. [Spy thriller] Sixth impression. Crown Octavo (21 x 13cm), pp.221. Publisher's cloth-effect paper over boards with scarlet endpapers in the correct dust-wrapper for this printing, illustrated by Richard Chopping, priced at 16s. A very good, used copy with moderate handling and wear. This was the final..... 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. Illustrated with photographic plates. Publisher's quarter white cloth over patterned grey boards, black topstain and endpapers, pictorial wrapper by Paul Davis priced at 30s. An..... More
Thunderball.
London: Jonathan Cape, 1961. [Spy thriller] FIRST EDITION. 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. A very lightly used copy with a splash to top edge, jacket with a...... More
Thunderball.
London: Jonathan Cape, 1961. [Spy thriller] FIRST EDITION. 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. A clean, fine copy of the book in an outstanding wrapper. Housed in a...... 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