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
Diamonds are Forever.
London: Jonathan Cape, 1956. [Spy thriller] FIRST EDITION, Binding B (Linson cloth), export copy. Octavo (20 x 14cm), pp.257; [1], blank. Publisher's black cloth titled in silver, pictorial dust-wrapper by Pat Marriott. Housed in a custom-made cloth clamshell. No inscriptions or spotting. A crisp, fine copy of the book, jacket..... More
Diamonds are Forever.
New York, NY: The Macmillan Company, [1966]. [Spy novel] SECOND U.S. EDITION. Octavo (22 x 14cm), pp.215; [1], blank. Publisher's black vinyl-style cloth-covered boards, lettered in gilt to the spine, in pictorial dust-jacket illustrated by Jerome Kuhl, priced at $3.95. Owner's names to endpaper otherwise a fine, fresh copy. A...... More
Diamonds are Forever.
New York, NY: The Macmillan Company, [1966]. [Spy novel] SECOND U.S. EDITION. Octavo (22 x 14cm), pp.215; [1], blank. Publisher's black vinyl-style cloth-covered boards, lettered in gilt to the spine, in pictorial dust-jacket illustrated by Jerome Kuhl, priced at $3.95. A mis-bound copy, lacking a central gathering, pp.89-120. Jacket is..... More
Diamonds are Forever.
London: Jonathan Cape, 1956. [Spy thriller] FIRST EDITION, Binding B (Linson cloth), export copy. Octavo (20 x 14cm), pp.257; [1], blank. Publisher's black cloth titled in silver, pictorial dust-wrapper by Pat Marriott. Housed in a custom-made clamshell box. No inscriptions, some minor spotting to edges (likely from climate). A crisp..... More
Diamonds are Forever.
London: Jonathan Cape, 1962. [Spy thriller] Fourth Impression, bibliographer's copy. Octavo (20 x 14cm), pp.257; [1], blank. Publisher's black cloth titled in silver, pictorial dust-wrapper by Pat Marriott priced at 16s via publisher's label. Some spotting/toning to edges, some rust marks from paperclip, etc. to e.p., jacket is near fine..... More
Diamonds are Forever.
London: Jonathan Cape, 1958. [Spy thriller] FIRST EDITION, second printing, bibliographer's copy. Octavo (20 x 14cm), pp.257; [1], blank. Publisher's black cloth titled in silver, pictorial dust-wrapper by Pat Marriott priced at 13/6. Book and jacket are both near fine, showing some careful use/handling. Jon Gilbert's file copy, with his..... More
Diamonds are Forever.
London: Jonathan Cape, 1956. [Spy thriller] FIRST EDITION, Binding A. Octavo (20 x 14cm), pp.257; [1], blank. Publisher's black cloth titled in silver, with the pictorial dust-jacket designed by Pat Marriott priced at 12s 6d. Contents clean. A fine copy of the book in a lightly rubbed jacket with one..... More
Diamonds Are Forever. Centenary Edition.
London: Penguin 007, 2008. [Spy novel] CENTENARY EDITION, second impression. Octavo (23 x 15cm), pp.[vi]; 287; [1], blank; [10] adverts. Bound in original silver-stamped black cloth in striking dust-jacket with 'retro' style artwork by Michael Gillette. Fine/as new. The bibliographer's copy, with his pencilled note and ownership signature to free..... More
Dollar Mystery Guild Uniform edition of the James Bond novels. A complete set. Comprising Casino Royale, Moonraker, From Russia With Love, Dr. No, Goldfinger, Thunderball, The Spy Who Loved Me, You Only Live Twice and The Man with the Golden Gun (all that were published).
New York, NY: MacMillan, Viking & The New American Library, 1965. [Spy novels] The FIRST AMERICAN BOOK CLUB EDITION. Octavo (22 x 15cm). Nine volumes. Publisher's black leatherette with gilt titles to spine and various coloured leatherette strips to fore-edges, various coloured topstains, 'girl and gun' jacket design against backgrounds..... More
Dr No [together with] From Russia With Love (Omnibus).
London: Chancellor Press. 1984. [Spy thrillers] FIRST EDITION THUS. Octavo (22 x 15cm), pp.285 [3]. Elegantly bound in half navy blue calf, lettered in gilt, raised bands to spine, matching cloth over boards. Light toning to text block, exterior as new. A fine copy in an attractive recent leather binding..... More
Dr. No
London: Jonathan Cape, 1964. [James Bond novel] FIRST EDITION, sixth printing, binding 'B'. Octavo (20 x 14cm), pp.256. Publisher's brown cloth with 'Dancing Lady' design, illustrated dust-wrapper by Pat Marriott priced at 16s. No inscriptions, contents clean. Edges of text block a little tanned, raised circle/pimple on cover which appears..... More
Dr. No.
London: Jonathan Cape, 1962. [Thriller] SIGNED AND INSCRIBED BY THE AUTHOR. Fourth impression. Octavo (20 x 14cm), pp.256. Publisher's dark brown cloth in the original dust-wrapper illustrated by Pat Marriott. With author's presentation note to the flyleaf in blue ink; To / Lou / Whom I must / meet soon!..... More
Dr. No.
London: Jonathan Cape, 1958. [James Bond] FIRST EDITION, First state. Octavo (20 x 14cm), pp.256. Publisher's black cloth-effect paper over boards, silver titles to spine, in pictorial dust wrapper designed by Pat Marriott, priced at 13/6. Earliest state binding, without the 'Dancing Lady' design to the upper. No inscriptions, some..... More
Dr. No.
London: Jonathan Cape, 1963. [James Bond adventure] Fifth Impression. Octavo (20 x 14cm), pp.256. Publisher's black cloth-effect paper over boards, silver titles to spine, with price-clipped pictorial dust-jacket designed by Pat Marriott. Top edge dusty, contents clean, would be fine, but for some overly enthusiastic use of tape (probably to..... More
Dr. No.
London: Jonathan Cape, 1958. [James Bond] FIRST EDITION, true FIRST ISSUE. Octavo (20 x 14cm), pp.256. Publisher's black cloth-effect paper over boards, EARLIEST binding design without the 'Dancing Lady' design on the upper board, silver titles to spine, pictorial dust-wrapper designed by Pat Marriott. No inscriptions, edges clean, small amount..... More
Dr. No.
London: Jonathan Cape, 1956. [Thriller] FIRST EDITION, bibliographer's copy. Octavo (20 x 14cm), pp.256. Boots 'Booklovers' Library copy in their terracotta bookcloth titled in black to the spine, green 'shield' device blocked to the upper (not a label), with metal eyelet to crown (these were hung on hooks for display..... More
Dr. No.
London: Jonathan Cape, 1958. [Thriller] FIRST EDITION, bibliographer's copy. Octavo (20 x 14cm), pp.256. Publisher's black cloth-effect paper over boards, silver titles to spine. Second state binding, with the 'Dancing Lady' design to the upper. A working copy with some soiling within, covers with some marks, etc., provided with a...... More
Dr. No.
London: Jonathan Cape, 1958. [James Bond] FIRST EDITION, FIRST ISSUE, bibliographer's copy. Binding A (Linson). Octavo (20 x 14cm), pp.256. Publisher's black cloth-effect paper over boards, silver titles to spine. A very good copy with a few rubs and marks, provided with a later plain brown paper jacket with printed..... More
Dr. No.
London: Jonathan Cape, 1958. [James Bond] FIRST EDITION, FIRST ISSUE, bibliographer's copy. Binding A (Linson). Octavo (20 x 14cm), pp.256. Publisher's black cloth-effect paper over boards, silver titles to spine. A working copy; disbound sheets (loose) in the cloth case, which shows some wear. Text is complete, some spotting, ink..... More
Dr. No.
London: Jonathan Cape, 1958. [James Bond] LEATHER BOUND FIRST EDITION, bibliographer's copy. Octavo (20 x 14cm), pp.256. Elegantly bound in black half oasis morocco over matching cloth sides, spine gilt-titled in six compartments with traditional raised bands, red endpapers. Contents mostly clean with a few spots and reading marks within..... More
Dr. No.
London: Jonathan Cape, 1958. [Thriller] FIRST EDITION. An unusual pre-publication association/presentation copy with signed inscription by Ian Fleming's literary editor William Plomer. Octavo (20 x 14cm), pp.256. Publisher's black cloth-effect paper over boards, silver titles to spine. Second state binding, with the 'Dancing Lady' design to the upper, pictorial jacket..... More
Dr. No.
London: Jonathan Cape, 1958. [Thriller] FIRST EDITION. Octavo (20 x 14cm), pp.256. Publisher's black cloth-effect paper over boards, silver titles to spine. Second state binding, with the 'Dancing Lady' design to the upper. Illustrated dust-wrapper by Pat Marriott. A crisp, fine copy of the book in a lovely fine jacket..... More
Dr. No.
London: Jonathan Cape, 1958. [James Bond] FIRST EDITION, true FIRST ISSUE. Octavo (20 x 14cm), pp.256. Publisher's black cloth-effect paper over boards, EARLIEST binding design without the 'Dancing Lady' design on the upper board, silver titles to spine, pictorial dust-wrapper designed by Pat Marriott, priced 13/6. Contents clean, edges gently..... More
Dr. No.
London: Jonathan Cape, 1958. [Bond thriller] FIRST EDITION. Octavo (20 x 14cm), pp.256. Export copy. Publisher's black cloth-effect paper over boards, silver titles to spine. Second state binding, with the 'Dancing Lady' design to the upper. Illustrated dust-wrapper by Pat Marriott. No inscriptions, contents clean, edges a little toned/spotted, bright..... More
Dr. No.
London: Jonathan Cape, 1963. [James Bond adventure] Sixth Impression. Octavo (20 x 14cm), pp.256. Publisher's dark grey cloth-effect paper over boards (binding 'B'), silver titles to spine, with pictorial dust-jacket designed by Pat Marriott. Edges a little dusty/toned, contents clean, title page with an unfortunate clip to lower corner and..... More