"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
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, in pictorial dust-wrapper designed by Richard Chopping, priced at 15s. Discreet owner name else fine, jacket with a few small nicks/rubs and a...... 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, in pictorial dust-wrapper designed by Richard Chopping, priced at 15s. Contents clean, edges toned, flyleaf discreetly replaced, jacket with a few small chips..... More
A James Bond Omnibus. Containing Live and Let Die, Diamonds are Forever and Dr No.
London: Book Club Associates 1973. [Spy novels] FIRST EDITION of the first James Bond omnibus to be published in the UK, preceding the Jonathan Cape equivalent. Octavo (19 x 13cm), pp.748. Publisher's hardcover in original metallic effect dust-wrapper. No inscriptions, moderately worn in the foil jacket, which easily shows wear;..... More
A James Bond Omnibus. Containing Live and Let Die, Diamonds are Forever and Dr No.
London: Book Club Associates, 1973. [Spy novels] FIRST EDITION of the first James Bond omnibus to be published in the UK, preceding the Jonathan Cape equivalent. Octavo (19 x 13cm), pp.748. Publisher's hardcover in original metallic effect dust-wrapper. No inscriptions, slightly dusty, foil jacket has a few expected marks but..... 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
Moonraker (a James Bond novel).
London: Jonathan Cape, 1955. FIRST EDITION, BINDING B (no priority). This example is in the Linson cloth variant, which has a higher sheen and closer pattern/texture and is both described and illustrated on page 8 of the bibliography. Such bindings seem to be less common in commerce. With 'shoot' correctly..... More
Octopussy and The Living Daylights. Two original typescripts, owned by Richard Chopping.
[Jonathan Cape], n.d. [1965]. THE ONLY KNOWN TYPESCRIPT for Octopussy and The Living Daylights. Richard Chopping's signed original typescripts for the two James Bond short stories, each inscribed by the book jacket illustrator. Octopussy, 46pp., and The Living Daylights, 35pp., quarto, stapled sheets. Both fine copies with a few minor..... 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.
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 Property of a Lady (a James Bond story) [in SOTHEBY'S ART AT AUCTION]. Ian Lancaster FLEMING](/pictures/thumb/61260.jpg?v=1648315479)
The Property of a Lady (a James Bond story) [in SOTHEBY'S ART AT AUCTION]
London: Conran Octopus. 1994. Quarto. Pp.320 Publisher's black cloth with gilt titles to spine, in a glossy pictorial dust-jacket priced at £40. The Property of a Lady appears on pages 15–27, with four colour illustrations including one double-spread. There is also an inset photograph of a page from the manuscript..... 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. [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, 1965. [Spy novel] Dollar Mystery Guild Uniform 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 sand-coloured dust-jacket. A nice clean copy with just a...... More
The Spy Who Loved Me.
New York, NY: The Viking Press, 1965. [Spy novel] Dollar Mystery Guild Uniform 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 sand-coloured dust-jacket. Some toning, browning/soiling to flyleaves, jacket with..... More
The Spy Who Loved Me.
London: Jonathan Cape, 1962 [actually issued October 1961]. [Spy thriller] UNCORRECTED PROOF copy of the First Edition. Octavo (18 x 11cm), pp.221. Publisher's green wraps, with titles printed in black. A clean, fresh copy, housed in a custom-made fleece-lined, leather-spined clamshell box; only 500 copies were issued. The proof features..... 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, priced at $3.95. Pencil signature of Lacritz to flyleaf, faint cup-ring to..... More
The Spy Who Loved Me.
London: Pan Books, 1967. FIRST UK EDITION in paperback. Octavo (17 x 11cm), pp.172; [4], advertisements. Pictorial card softcovers with original price of 3/6 to rear (also priced for export to Australia, New Zealand and South Africa). Contents toned as expected else a fine, fresh copy. Uncommon thus. Gilbert, Jon..... More
![Thrilling Cities [James Bond In New York]. Ian Lancaster FLEMING](/pictures/thumb/61464.jpg?v=1648315481)
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. A remarkably fine copy. Includes a James Bond short story. The US..... 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
Thunderball.
New York: Viking, 1965. [Spy novel] Dollar Mystery Guild Uniform Edition. Octavo (22 x 15cm), pp.[viii]; 248. Publisher's black leatherette with gilt titles to spine and blue leatherette strips to fore-edges. Top edge blue-green; fore-edge untrimmed. With the sand-coloured dust-jacket, titled in red. Some discolour to top edge, thumbmark to..... More
Thunderball.
London: Jonathan Cape, 1961. [James Bond] LEATHER BOUND FIRST EDITION. Octavo (19 x 13cm), pp.254. Elegantly bound in black half oasis morocco over matching cloth sides, spine gilt-titled in six compartments with traditional raised bands. A lovely crisp, clean copy, presented in an attractive new leather binding. 'Thunderball' is one..... More
You Only Live Twice (a James Bond novel).
London: Queen Anne Press, in association with Adrian Harrington, [2022]. [Spy novel] CLASSIC READERS EDITION. Octavo (22 x 14cm), pp.264. Publisher's lotus red 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
You Only Live Twice (a James Bond novel).
London: Jonathan Cape, 1964. [Spy novel] FIRST EDITION. Octavo (20 x 14cm), pp.256. With 'First Published March 1964' on the copyright page, being the rarer of the two First Printing states (Gilbert). Publisher's dark grey cloth-effect paper over boards with silver titles to spine and Japanese characters in gilt to..... More
You Only Live Twice (a James Bond novel).
London: Jonathan Cape, 1964. [Spy novel] Second impression. Octavo (20 x 14cm), pp.256. Publisher's dark grey cloth-effect paper over boards with silver titles to spine and Japanese characters in gilt to upper, bamboo patterned endpapers. Fine copy, lacking jacket. The final impression of this novel to be printed during the..... More