"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
The Life of Ian Fleming. Creator of James Bond.
London: Jonathan Cape, 1966. [Literary Biography] FIRST EDITION. Octavo (25 x 16cm), pp.352, with pp.16 of photographic plates. Publisher's black cloth with 'golden eye' motif to the upper cover, red top-stain, pictorial dust-wrapper. Edges toned/thumbed, Christmas gift label to flyleaf, jacket worn at spine ends and corners. A very good..... More
Ian Fleming 28th May 1908 - 12th August 1964. An Address Given at the Memorial Service.
Westerham Press, Privately Printed 1964. Slim octavo. Black card wraps, with black dust-wrapper, printed title label to upper. An immaculate copy of the book in fine original semi-transparent paper jacket, a touch frayed to rear. The book-form printing of the address given at Fleming's memorial, 15th September 1964, was also..... More
Zur Chirurgie des Herzens und des Herzbeutels, in 'Archiv fur Klinische Chirurgie'.
Berlin: Verlag von August Hirshwald 1907. Pp.904. Original printed wrappers. Prof. Dr. Rehn's treatise appears on pp.723-778. A fine copy, in a folding protective case with gilt-titled orange leather label to spine and gilt crest to upper (some wear to box). This is an account of the first successful suture..... More
![James Bond] Ian Fleming. Sixty Years of 007 [within Fine Books and Collections]. Ian FLEMING,...](/pictures/thumb/56808.JPG?v=1589300954)
[James Bond] Ian Fleming. Sixty Years of 007 [within Fine Books and Collections].
Chapel Hill, NC: Journalistic, Inc. / Webb C. Howell, Spring 2013. Magazine format in pictorial glossy photographic covers, perfect bound. pp.64. Illustrated with colour photographs throughout. Original price $5.95. Fine / as new. Includes a three-page article 'The Birth of Bond', celebrating the 60th anniversary of the novel Casino Royale..... More
Ian Fleming: The Book Collector.
London: The Book Collector / Queen Anne Press, 2017. Ten monographs, SIGNED LETTERPRESS EDITIONS, being the FIRST SEPARATE PRINTING. 10 vols., slim octavo (26 x 18cm), limited variously to 60 or 120 copies, each hand-numbered and signed by James and Fergus Fleming. Finely printed on 150gsm Bockingford paper and bound..... More
The James Bond Dossier. Pre-publication Publicity File
London: To be Published by Jonathan Cape at 16s. on May 27th, no date [1965]. [James Bond] The complete pack, comprising a colour promotional poster for the book designed by Jan Pienkowski (52cm x 76cm), an 'Obituary of Commander James Bond' (35cm x 52cm), a cross-section and information regarding the..... More
![Diamonds Are Forever. Press Book [Exhibitor's Campaign Book]. Ian FLEMING](/pictures/thumb/54621.jpg?v=1567527115)
Diamonds Are Forever. Press Book [Exhibitor's Campaign Book].
United Artists. Printed In USA, 1971. [Promotional material] ONLY PRINTING. Large-format/small poster sized 12-page stapled booklet providing cast and credits, editorial comment, plus advertising and promotional lists for soundtracks, book sales, toiletries, etc. No cuts or folds, minor handling; fine. More
![You Only Live Twice. Press Book [Exhibitor's Campaign Book]. Ian FLEMING](/pictures/thumb/51074.jpg?v=1563378726)
You Only Live Twice. Press Book [Exhibitor's Campaign Book].
United Artists. Printed In USA, 1967. [Promotional material] ONLY PRINTING. Large-format/small poster sized 12-page stapled booklet providing cast and credits, editorial comment, plus advertising and promotional lists for soundtracks, book sales, toiletries, etc. One cut-out to p.4, folded once, minor wear to spine fold. Very good. More
Loxfinger. A Thrilling Adventure of Hebrew Secret agent Oy-Oy-7.
New York, NY: Pocket Books, 1965. [James Bond pastiche] FIRST EDITION. Octavo (22 x 14cm), pp.127; [1], blank. Publisher's colour softcovers with original price $1.00. Minor marks and handling. A near fine copy. The first of four novels featuring Israel Bond. More
Matzohball. An Israel Bond Thriller.
New York, NY: Pocket Books, 1966. [James Bond pastiche] FIRST EDITION. Octavo (22 x 14cm), pp.126; [1], order form; [1], blank. Publisher's colour softcovers with original price $1.00. Lightly handled; fine. 'A new adventure of Hebrew secret agent Oy-Oy-7'. More
Matzohball. An Israel Bond Thriller.
New York, NY: Pocket Books, 1966. [James Bond pastiche] FIRST EDITION. Octavo (22 x 14cm), pp.126; [1], order form; [1], blank. Publisher's colour softcovers with original price $1.00. A fine copy. 'A new adventure of Hebrew secret agent Oy-Oy-7'. More
On the Secret Service of His Majesty, The Queen. An Israel Bond Thriller.
New York, NY: Pocket Books, 1966. [James Bond pastiche] FIRST EDITION. Octavo (22 x 14cm), pp.128. Publisher's colour softcovers with original price $1.00. A near fine copy. 'Hebrew Secret agent Oy-Oy-7 strikes again'. More
contribute to...'ELLERY QUEEN'S MYSTERY MAGAZINE'
Holyoake, MA: Davis Publications, September 1969. [James Bond] Original issue magazine format (20 x 14cm), pp.162, with colour covers. Some expected toning to cheap paper but altogether a crisp, near fine copy. This issue contains the James Bond short story 'The Property of a Lady' plus mysteries by Anthony Gilbert..... More
Double O Seven. James Bond. A Report.
London: Neville Spearman, Holland Press, 1964. [Reference/ Literary criticism] FIRST EDITION. Octavo (22 x 15cm), pp.160. Publisher's black cloth hardcovers in Richard Chopping-style dust-wrapper, priced at 18s. Discreet Foyle's label beneath flap, jacket lightly rubbed only with one small nick to spine. Near fine. The very first book-length critique on..... More
Double O Seven. James Bond. A Report.
New York, NY: Signet Books, 1965. [Reference/ Literary criticism] FIRST U.S. EDITION. Pp.127 + [1], advertisement. Publisher's illustrated softcovers priced at 50c, all edges red. Cheap paper stock browned as usual, covers show some rubbing and wear. Very good. A former book illustrator and intelligence operative in Russia, Oswald Frederick..... More
Double O Seven. James Bond. A Report.
London: Panther Books, 1965. [Reference/ Literary criticism] FIRST PAPERBACK EDITION. Pp.192. Publisher's illustrated softcovers priced at 3/6. Cheap paper stock browned as usual, some handling, joints rubbed. A very good copy. A former book illustrator and intelligence operative in Russia, Oswald Frederick [Fred] Snelling was a highly-regarded member of the..... More