"Always read something that will make you look good if you die in the middle of it."
— P.J. O'Rourke
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
!['Paris Courier' [From A View To A Kill] (A New James Bond Adventurer) contained within 'Argosy'...](/pictures/thumb/39847.JPG?v=1497532613)
'Paris Courier' [From A View To A Kill] (A New James Bond Adventurer) contained within 'Argosy' magazine for men. Volume 352, Number 3, March 1961.
Ohio and New York: Popular Publications, Incorporated. 1961. Pp.146. Magazine format in pictorial paper wraps. Some acceptable wear for a magazine, short tears to spine, corners of back cover chipped; very good. Original price: 50 cents. The story appears on pages 56–7, 127–32, being an illustrated printing of From a.... More about 'Paris Courier' [From A View To A Kill] (A New James Bond Adventurer) contained within 'Argosy'...
'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 about 'The Perplexing Date Line' contained within 'Holiday' magazine. Vol 28, No.5, November 1960
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 about Quantum of Solace. The Complete James Bond Short Stories
!['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 about 'Russians Make Mistakes Too' [Soviet Espionage] contained within 'Esquire' magazine. Volume LIV,...
The Spy Who Loved Me.
London: Jonathan Cape, 1963. FIRST EDITION, Fifth Impression. Pp.221. SIGNED BY THE AUTHOR. Publisher's cloth-effect paper covered boards in the correct dust-wrapper for this printing (supplied), illustrated by Richard Chopping. Some minor toning and spotting to the edges of the text block; slight lean; jacket a little dusty with a.... More about The Spy Who Loved Me
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 about The Spy Who Loved Me
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. Trivial handling, a little toning to both edges and jacket; near fine. This was the final Cape... More about The Spy Who Loved Me
The Spy Who Loved Me. (A James Bond novel).
London: Jonathan Cape, 1962. First Impression, State A, INSCRIBED by the author to the correspondent Jonathan Connolly. Octavo, pp.221. Publisher's dark grey cloth-effect paper over boards with foil stamped 'dagger, red endpapers, pictorial dust-wrapper by Richard Chopping. Housed in a custom-made leather-spined clamshell box. Trivial wear. Near fine. The tenth... More about The Spy Who Loved Me. (A James Bond novel
![Thrilling Cities [James Bond In New York]. Ian Lancaster FLEMING](/pictures/thumb/52800.jpg?v=1544547183)
Thrilling Cities [James Bond In New York].
New York, NY: Signet Books, June 1965. [Travel] The true first paperback edition. Signet Books' series P2694. Octavo (18 x 11cm), pp.207; [1], advertisement. Publisher's illustrated softcovers with original price 60c to upper panel, all edges tinted red. List of Bond titles facing title page partly crossed through, light handling... More about Thrilling Cities [James Bond In New York
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, erratum slip tipped-in at page 223. Publisher's quarter white cloth over patterned grey boards, black topstain and endpapers, pictorial wrapper by... More about Thrilling Cities
Thrilling Cities.
London: Jonathan Cape, 1963. [Travel] UNCORRECTED PROOF COPY of the First Edition. Octavo (23 x 16cm), with plates. Publisher's softcovers in the neon pink proof-only dust-wrapper. The Paul Davis-designed jacket is uncut, with square corners (the published book jacket wrapper has clipped corners) and the publication date is stamped at... More about Thrilling Cities
Thunderball.
London: Jonathan Cape, 1961. [Spy thrillerl] 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 lightly used copy with some dustiness and handling; jacket price clipped. Very Good... More about Thunderball
Thunderball.
London: Jonathan Cape, 1961. [Spy thrillerl] 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 price-clipped dust-wrapper illustrated by Richard Chopping. A beautiful fresh copy in jacket which would be fine, but for some... More about Thunderball
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 about Too Hot to Handle (Moonraker
Typed letter, signed.
London: 30th June 1952. One page letter to fellow author and illustrator Nicholas Bentley, typed on Kemsley House' headed notepaper, addressed and with salutation in manuscript. Ian Fleming was Foreign Manager at the Kemsley Group of Newspapers, and he drafted this letter in regard to to Bentley's position as an... More about Typed letter, signed
'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 about 'Where Shall John Go? -Jamaica' contained within 'Horizon' Magazine. Edited by Cyril Connolly...
You Only Live Twice.
London: Jonathan Cape, 1964. [Spy novel] FIRST EDITION, First State, Binding A. Octavo (20 x 14cm), pp.256. Publisher's black cloth-effect paper over boards with silver titles to spine and Japanese characters in gilt to upper, bamboo patterned endpapers, in original pictorial dust-wrapper by Richard Chopping. With 'First Published 1964' on... More about You Only Live Twice
You Only Live Twice.
London: Jonathan Cape, 1964. [Spy novel] FIRST EDITION, First State, Binding A. Octavo (20 x 14cm), pp.256. Publisher's black cloth-effect paper 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, priced at 16s. Light spotting... More about You Only Live Twice
You Only Live Twice. (a James Bond novel).
London: Jonathan Cape, 1964 [actually issued late 1963]. UNCORRECTED PROOF copy of the first edition. In printed green wrappers and the pictorial dust-jacket, stamped 'Proof Only' etc. on inside front flap, with minor variations to the blurb on rear flap over the published version. An attractive copy, preserved in an... More about You Only Live Twice. (a James Bond novel
Casino Royale.
London: Jonathan Cape, 1953. FIRST EDITION. 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. Owner name 'Bray' to flyleaf (Hilary Bray was Bond's alias in the novel On Her Majesty's Secret Service), page edges... More about Casino Royale
Casino Royale.
London: Jonathan Cape, 1957. Fourth printing [New Edition]. Octavo (20 x 13cm), pp.218; [2], blank. Publisher's black cloth-effect paper over boards with red titles and 'Heart' design to upper, pictorial green 'playing card' dust-wrapper illustrated by Pat Marriott (uncredited on this impression), priced at 13/6 (many are price clipped). Book... More about Casino Royale
The Anniversary Edition of Ian Fleming's James Bond Novels. [Set of works / 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 Majesties Secret Service, You Only Live Twice, The Man with the Golden Gun, and Octopussy with The Living Daylights (short stories)]
London: Penguin Books 2002. 14 volumes, small octavo. Cloth-bound hardcovers in photographic dustwrappers by Toby MacFarlan Pond. The full set, all fine and unread, in a custom-made black cloth fleece-line slip-case with ribbon pull. This was the first James Bond hardback published by Penguin Books, who held the publishing rights... More about The Anniversary Edition of Ian Fleming's James Bond Novels. [Set of works / novels comprising:...
Bonded Fleming. A James Bond Omnibus.
New York, NY: The Viking Press, 1965. [Spy fiction] FIRST EDITION THUS. Octavo (22 x 15cm), pp.439; [3], blank. Publisher's quarter black cloth over red paper-covered boards, black endpapers, top edge red, pictorial dust-wrapper designed by Al Cetta. A few minor marks to page edges, jacket a touch edgeworn, price-clipped... More about Bonded Fleming. A James Bond Omnibus
The Centenary Edition of Ian Fleming's James Bond Novels. [Set of works / 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 Majesties Secret Service, You Only Live Twice, The Man with the Golden Gun, and Octopussy with The Living Daylights (short stories)].
London: Penguin 007, 2008. [Spy novels] All FIRST IMPRESSIONS. Fourteen volumes, octavo (23 x 15 x 42cm). Bound in original silver-stamped black cloth in striking dust-jackets with 'retro' style artwork by Michael Gillette. All volumes as new, housed in a custom-made cloth slipcase with fleece lining and ribbon pulls. A.... More about The Centenary Edition of Ian Fleming's James Bond Novels. [Set of works / novels comprising:...
Complete First Editions of Ian Fleming's James Bond Novels. [Set of works / 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 Majesties Secret Service, You Only Live Twice, The Man with the Golden Gun, and Octopussy with The Living Daylights (short stories)]
London: Jonathan Cape. 1953-66. FIRST EDITIONS. 14 volumes. Octavo. (20 x 14 x 38cm). All First Impressions. Beautifully bound in deep red full calf with contrasting dark blue morocco title labels, lettered in gilt, raised bands, all edges gilt, black endpapers. Contents mostly fine with the occasional spot or mark... More about Complete First Editions of Ian Fleming's James Bond Novels. [Set of works / novels comprising:...