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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
For Your Eyes Only: Ian Fleming and James Bond.
London: Bloomsbury, 2008. FIRST EDITION. Illustrated Quarto (25 x 20cm), pp.224. Silk-screen pictorial hardcovers with photographic endpapers, illustrated dust-wrapper. Minor handling, price clipped. Near fine. A superb reference book from journalist Ben Macintyre, covering both the literary and screen James Bond. The volume was originally conceived to accompany a major..... More
50 Years of James Bond.
USA: Time Life Books, 2012. [Film reference] FIRST EDITION. Square quarto (26 x 26cm), pp.176. Colour photographs throughout. Publisher's black cloth lettered in gilt, photographic endpapers featuring 'golden girl' Shirley Eaton, photographic dust-wrapper priced at $27.95. A fine, unused copy. A fine photographic history of the cinematic Bond, published on..... More
James Bond In Focus.
UK: Mervyn Brodie and Associates Ltd. 1964. Magazine format in pictorial photographic covers, perfect bound, pp.64. Original price 3s/6d. A commemorative photo book published to co-incide with the release of the 1964 James Bond film 'Goldfinger'. With numerous photographs from the first three Bond films (some in colour) and accompanying..... 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, very light rubbing to joints. A crisp, near fine copy. A former book illustrator and intelligence operative in Russia, Oswald Frederick [Fred] Snelling was a highly-regarded member..... More
!['Berlin Escape' [The Living Daylights, a James Bond Spy Thriller, in] The New Golden Argosy. ...](/pictures/thumb/59396.jpg?v=1621356484)
'Berlin Escape' [The Living Daylights, a James Bond Spy Thriller, in] The New Golden Argosy. Volume 354, Number 6.
Ohio and New York: Popular Publications, June 1962. [Men's Magazine] FIRST US APPEARANCE. Magazine format (28 x 22cm), pp.144. The novella is advertised on the front cover and appears on pp.22-4, and pp.95-100, with a full-colour frontispiece illustration by Lou Feck. Publisher's colour-illustrated paper covers, priced at 50c. Presented in..... More
![A Nice View for a Killing [From a View to a Kill, in] Fury Magazine. Volume 25, No.3. Ian...](/pictures/thumb/59399.jpg?v=1621356484)
A Nice View for a Killing [From a View to a Kill, in] Fury Magazine. Volume 25, No.3.
New York, NY: J.B. Publishing Corporation, July 1962. [Men's Magazine] SECOND US APPEARANCE. Magazine format (28 x 21cm), pp.68. The story appears on pp.28–9, and pp.55–6, being an illustrated printing of 'From a View to a Kill', published under this new title and advertised as a 'Book Bonus'. This is..... More
'Thunderball' (A James Bond Spy Thriller) contained within 'Argosy' magazine for men. Volume 353, Number 6, December 1961.
Ohio and New York: Popular Publications, Incorporated. December 1961. [Men's Magazine] FIRST US PERIODICAL APPEARANCE. Magazine format (28 x 22cm), pp.144. In pictorial paper wraps. Original price: 50 cents. The novel 'Thunderball' is advertised on the front cover as an 'extra book bonus' and appears on pages 128–44, with a...... More