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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
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
For Your Eyes Only (James Bond short stories).
London: Jonathan Cape, 1960. [Espionage] FIRST EDITION, Binding A. Octavo (19 x 13cm), pp.252. Publisher's black cloth-effect paper over boards, blocked in silver to the spine, pictorial dust-wrapper priced at 15s. Book is fine, jacket with a few light marks, very light wear to crown, decent red colouring to spine..... 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
![Ian Fleming's Thrilling Cities [including a James Bond story]. Ian Lancaster FLEMING](/pictures/thumb/57093.jpg?v=1593621425)
Ian Fleming's Thrilling Cities [including a James Bond story]
New York, NY: New American Library, 1964. [Travel] FIRST US EDITION. Octavo (23 x 16cm), pp.viii; 246; [2], blank. Publisher's full beige cloth with blue and white endbands, top edge red, terracotta endpapers - not to be confused with the taller book club binding which has red cloth sides, red..... More
![Ian Fleming's Thrilling Cities [including a James Bond story]. Ian Lancaster FLEMING](/pictures/thumb/57621.jpg?v=1598115152)
Ian Fleming's Thrilling Cities [including a James Bond story]
New York, NY: New American Library, 1964. [Travel] FIRST US EDITION. Octavo (23 x 16cm), pp.viii; 246; [2], blank. Publisher's full beige cloth with blue and white endbands, top edge red, terracotta endpapers - not to be confused with the taller book club binding which has red cloth sides, red..... 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
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 (a James Bond novel).
London: Jonathan Cape, 1965 [actually issued late 1964]. [Spy thriller] An UNCORRECTED PROOF copy of the first edition. Softcovers, octavo (18 x 11cm), pp.221; [3], blank. Publisher's green wraps, with titles printed in black. Some moderate handling and light wear, toned to extremities. A very good copy indeed, with some..... 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).
New York, NY: New American Library, 1963. [Spy novel] FIRST U.S. EDITION. A superb association copy, INSCRIBED BY THE AUTHOR TO HUGH HEFNER. Octavo (22 x 14cm), pp.299; [1], blank. Cloth-backed blue paper-covered boards, decorated in gilt to spine, ochre top edge and endpapers, illustrated jacket priced at $4.50. With..... More
On Her Majesty's Secret Service (a James Bond novel).
London: Jonathan Cape, 1963. 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 plastic wrapper..... 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
The Spy Who Loved Me.
London: Jonathan Cape, 1962. [Spy thriller] FIRST EDITION, State A. SIGNED BY THE AUTHOR. 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 at 15s. A near fine copy with a slight spine lean, one tiny..... More
The Spy Who Loved Me.
New York, NY: The Viking Press, 1962. [Espionage novel] FIRST US EDITION. Octavo (21 x 14cm), pp.211; [5], blank. Publisher's salmon-coloured cloth blocked in brown to spine, brown endpapers, tinted top edge, pictorial jacket illustrated by Richard Chopping. A lovely fine copy in like, price-clipped jacket. A particularly fresh example..... More
The Spy Who Loved Me.
New York, NY: The Viking Press, 1962. [James Bond] US BOOK CLUB EDITION. Octavo (22 x 15cm), pp.211 [13]. Publisher's black leatherette with gilt titles to spine and red leatherette strips to fore-edges. Top edge red; fore-edge untrimmed. With the dust-jacket in orange. A nice clean copy with just a...... More
Thunderball.
London: Pan Books, 1963. FIRST EDITION in paperback. Slim octavo (18 x 11cm), pp.234; [6], advertisements. Pictorial card wrappers with the classic die-cut bullet hole design by Raymond Hawkey. Some expected toning/browning to paper, minor spine roll, moderate handling and wear to covers, some soiling to rear panel. Shows well..... More
Thunderball.
London: Jonathan Cape. 1961. [Spy novel] INSCRIBED BY THE AUTHOR. First edition, first Issue, Binding A, octavo (20 x 14cm), pp.254. With characteristic ballpoint inscription to the flyleaf; To/ Peter Werner/ from/ the Author. The recipient Peter Werner later became a prolific American film director. This is one of a...... More
You Only Live Twice (a James Bond novel).
London: Jonathan Cape, 1964. First Edition, FIRST ISSUE. Octavo (19 x 13cm), pp.256. Elegantly bound in half dark green oasis morocco over matching cloth sides, with gilt titles and raised bands to spine. A little spotting to margin of final two leaves else near fine in an attractive recent leather..... More
You Only Live Twice.
New York, NY: Signet Books, July 1965. The true first paperback edition. Signet Books' series P2712. Pp.160. Publisher's illustrated softcovers with original price 60c to upper panel, all edges tinted red. Pages a little tanned as expected, lightly handled, red colour to edges and titles remains strong. A near fine..... More
![LOBBY CARDS] Goldfinger. Set of official front of house cards / lobby cards. Ian Lancaster FLEMING](/pictures/thumb/53561.jpg?v=1554805484)
[LOBBY CARDS] Goldfinger. Set of official front of house cards / lobby cards.
United Artists, Printed in England 1964. [Cinema promotion] Complete set of 8 original UK Front of House Stills for the 1964 UA film starring Sean Connery as Ian Fleming's James Bond, produced by Harry Saltzman and Albert R. Broccoli's EON Productions. Approximate dimensions 10 x 8 inches. Housed in a...... More